Emergency services are praising two teenagers who swam into a Christchurch lake to rescue an elderly woman as a car sank on Thursday morning.
The incident happened at the Westlake Reserve in the suburb of Halswell. Police say the vehicle was fully submerged.
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The two teens, from different schools, saw the incident unfold and swam in to rescue her.
A St John spokesman said the driver, understood to be an elderly woman, was taken to Christchurch Hospital in a moderate condition.
It is understood two dogs in the car with her did not survive.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman Ian Littlejohn told Newshub the young men prevented another potential tragedy. The lake was the scene of another incident in 2017, where a Fijian couple drowned.
"The crews that responded to this event have certainly been loud in the praise of these two young children's actions.
"Both their families and their schools can be extremely proud."
Newshub.
This article was amended because it incorrectly stated that the driver was a learner.
