Click the image above to view slideshow

Two young boys have been rescued after the boat they were in capsized in Lake Taupo today.

The Taupo-based Greenlea rescue helicopter was called to the lake to aid police in a search for the two boys this afternoon.
The boys cling to the capsized boat in Lake Taupo.

Pilot Nat Every says one of the missing boys put out a distress call on a mobile phone to his mother, saying they were out of their boat and needed assistance. The woman then contacted the police.

'When comms with the boys was lost the helicopter was called to help.”

Nat says the boys were located very quickly, within 10 minutes of takeoff, about 1km offshore from the nearest land, which was upwind of them.

'Realistically in the direction of travel (downwind) they were over 4km from shore.”

The boys were clinging to the upturned hull of their dinghy. The helicopter crew directed a coastguard boat to the scene where the boys were uplifted.

Lake conditions at the time were rough with a 20knot westerly wind and waves.