Two children and their grandmother have died after the vehicle they were in plunged into a farm pond near Raetihi today.
The three became trapped in a submerged vehicle on the farm on Valley Road, just under a kilometre out of the rural town.
A fourth person believed to be the children’s grandfather was flown to Wanganui Hospital in a moderate condition. He has since been discharged.
"Three people were deceased when recovered from the pond by emergency services,” police said earlier this afternoon.
Whanganui DHB confirmed to 1 NEWS a 69-year-old man is in the hospital's emergency department "in a stable condition".
A spokesperson said "he's been here not that long".
Police were called to the incident at a rural property in the central North Island town just after 11am.
Craig Hughes, a Caltex Raetihi employee, said he heard many sirens around the time of the incident – from police cars, ambulances, fire engines and a helicopter.
Police said they are working to support the family of those killed and have notified WorkSafe.
Police said they were unable to say what kind of vehicle was involved.
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