Two men have been rescued from the top of their vehicle where they were trapped for two hours as it was being swallowed by a flooded river.

Emergency services said their vehicle became stuck in fast-moving water near Temuka, north of Timaru, around 9.30pm last night.

Police and Firefighters were called to the scene, near the fork of the Opihi and Temuka rivers.

The pair climbed onto the deck of their vehicle as it slowly sank in the water.

They were unable to swim to safety because of the strength of the current, a police spokesman said.

The vehicle then sank to its bonnet and a search and rescue team and a helicopter were brought in to help.

“At 11.20pm, the first of the pair was winched to safety, followed by his friend several minutes later,” the spokesman said.

The two men were assessed at Timaru Hospital and then released to their “very relieved family”, police said.

The rescue took place near the fork of the Temuka and Opihi Rivers. Photo / Google Maps