Jetskier rescued after more than 24 hours at sea

A man adrift at sea off the Canterbury Coast for more than 24 hours is being rescued despite never being reported missing.

The man was spotted by a Russian trawler on a broken down jet ski about 13km off the coast.

"The jet skier was settling down for another night at sea when the Russian trawler came into sight," police southern communications Inspector Warren Kemp said. The man was being picked up by the coast guard, he said.

"Considering the northwest and southerly storms in the past 24 hours he is a very lucky man."

 -NZPA