A police car is seen parked outside the Spencer Park Surf Life Saving Club east of Kaiapoi in Canterbury after a water-related incident at Spencer Beach left one person dead and seven others injured. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock
A death at a beach north of Christchurch is unrelated to a local surf club event, police say.
The person died and seven people were injured in a water incident this afternoon.
Police say they were called to Spencer Beach, east of Kaiapoi, at about 12.45pm.
While they were not providing many details on what happened, they confirmed one person died and the death had no connection to an IRB or inflatable rescue boats event being run by Spencer Park Surf Life Saving Club at the same time.
Police say the seven other people who received minor injuries got them while trying to rescue the deceased person.
St John said four ambulances responded to the incident.
Seven people who suffered minor injuries were assessed and treated at the scene.
Police have confirmed one person died in a water-related incident at Spencer Beach, but have not provided any details. Photo: RNZ / Niva Chittock