Authorities declared a state of emergency after some places received as much as 40 centimetres of rain over the weekend and into Monday. Forecasters warned of possible heavy rain through Monday evening before conditions improved.
Helicopter crews scoured the water for 30 minutes before finding the man and plucking him to safety. The military helicopter also rescued an elderly couple from the roof of their car. Paul Adams told news organization Stuff he thinks he got hit by a wall of water he didn't see coming. He was swept down the raging Ashburton River before managing to drag himself onto a fence and then into a tree. Another farmer spotted his headlamp and organized a rescue mission.
WOW,thats crazy KMacTWN
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