Emergency services have praised the actions of a young English tourist who tried to save a Malaysian man who is believed to have lost his life after jumping off the Tolaga Bay wharf on the East Coast.
The search resumed this morning for the 38-year-old man, who is presumed to have drowned in turbulent water under the wharf, 50km north of Gisborne.
He was with his family in a tour group that visited the wharf on a trip around the coast.
Police have not yet released his name.
His distraught parents, sister and aunt were on the wharf with him.
"The group with East Bro tours were at the end of the wharf at about 2.30pm when the incident happened," said search co-ordinator Sergeant Greg Lexmond.
"The missing man's sister saw her brother get into trouble and asked other tour party members for help."
English tourist Simon Constable, aged 20, from Yorkshire, was just drying off after he had jumped off the wharf himself.
"I went down the ladder on the side of the wharf and saw the man clinging to one of the piles underneath.
"He had the pile in a bear hug and I dived in to help him," Mr Constable said.
"As I swam towards him, he let go of the pile and was drifting. I grabbed him from behind under his arms but a wave came and pushed us against another pile.
"We both went under the water and at that point I lost him."
When Mr Constable surfaced there was no sign of the man.
"I searched around for about five minutes, then went back to the ladder."
Mr Lexmond praised Mr Constable's actions.
"It was very noble of him to dive in and do his best to save the guy.
"He must be feeling it now, given the outcome."
Tolaga Bay volunteer fire brigade members were the first emergency service on the scene.
"That was a fairly gutsy move for Mr Constable to jump in to help in those conditions and he should be commended in some way for it," said Tolaga Bay chief fire officer Ray Dever.
"Jumping off the end of the wharf is on the itinerary for the tour company but I question whether the conditions yesterday afternoon were safe enough.
"A school group staying at the motor camp cancelled their wharf-jumping plans yesterday because of the size of the swell," he said.
Swells of more than a metre were sweeping along the wharf yesterday.
"There was a big swell coming through and the conditions were marginal for people who were confident in their ability in the water," Mr Lexmond said.
"His family are absolutely devastated.
"We have organised help for them through Victim Support, and we have contacted the Malaysian embassy."
The family maintained a vigil on the wharf throughout the night and are staying at the Tolaga Bay Holiday Park.
"It's just such a tragedy for that family," Ray Dever said.
A search was mounted with the ECT rescue helicopter and Tolaga Bay Surf Lifesaving Club IRB rescue boats yesterday afternoon.
"We also had spotters up on the cliffs above the wharf until dusk," Mr Dever said.
The search resumed about 7.30am today.
"We have widened the search area out to take in the Uawa River, Karaka Bay north of Tolaga, Cooks Cove and along the coast south to Loisels (Waihau Beach, south of Tolaga Bay)," Mr Dever said.
The police national dive squad started an underwater search this morning.
"They started at the point where the man was last seen," Mr Lexmond said.
The search also involves the rescue helicopter, IRBs and shore teams.
"I am hopeful we will find him," Mr Lexmond said.
"Sea conditions have moderated significantly today and that will help with the search.
"I understand an OSH inquiry is to be conducted into the tragedy," he said.
Tour company East Bro's website indicates they are Gisborne-based, offering East Cape Adventure tours between November and April.
They have operated since 2007.
- Gisborne Herald