Police have named the three people who lost their lives in a Southland boating tragedy on Saturday.
Richard John King, 80, his wife Heather Ellen King, 79, and 75-year-old John Stanley McCulloch died when the boat they were on capsized on the Riverton Bar on Saturday afternoon.
All three were from Riverton, west of Invercargill.
Two other people who were on board have been released from hospital.
"Police continue to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of those involved, and we continue to provide the necessary support," Southland Area Commander Inspector Mike Bowman said.
Authorities were notified of the capsize just before 3pm on Saturday, prompting a large emergency response.
The bodies of two of the deceased were found that afternoon, while the third was located later that evening.
One of those who survived was found "hanging on to the capsized vessel", Riverton Coastguard Controller Noel Anderson said.
The other survivor was plucked from the water by people on a trailer boat.
"It hurts because local people are involved but we get on and do the business and that’s just part of our deal," Anderson said of the rescue.
Riverton Coastguard was formed in 1958 following a double drowning at the bar.
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