Police say a tragedy was averted in Blenheim today when members of the public came to the aid of a young girl being swept down the Taylor River.
Police were alerted to the incident about 8.45am where it was reported a girl who was walking to school was swept away in the flooded river near High St.
A 17 year old male and another man chased the girl along the river bank and eventually recovered her from the water near Beaver Road.
The 12 year old girl has been taken to hospital in a serious condition. The teenager has also been taken to hospital suffering mild hypothermia, but the other male rescuer did not require medical attention.
Senior Sergeant Dan Mattison said the quick actions of the teenage boy and the other man involved in the rescue had saved the girl's life.
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