"Ironically this morning, while I was dusting a photograph of Neil it slid off a shelf and the song Tears In Heaven was playing on the radio," she said.
She took heart from the fact that her husband would have "gone to sleep very quickly".
"There is no evidence Neil drowned as there was no water in his lungs and he was found floating face up in dead calm water," Mrs Turner said.
Mr Turner was not wearing a lifejacket.
"While there is no evidence a lifejacket would have made the difference in Neil's case, I feel very strongly that wearing a lifejacket or some kind of life buoyancy aid in smaller boats should be compulsory if it has the potential to save lives," she said.
Mrs Turner said the risks of death by cold water immersion were not widely appreciated. She said a medic told her five minutes in freezing cold water could make a person lapse into unconsciousness, and if they were immersed between seven and 15 minutes the chances of survival were "very very, slim".
Mr Turner, known as "Noddy", was one of five friends travelling on a private launch, Terawhiti, in Fiordland and the group was four weeks into a six-week trip.
On July 3, Mr Turner transported his companion, Alistair Wells, on one of the vessel's inflatable boats to Precipice Cove in Bradshaw Sound, so Mr Wells could go hunting.
It was assumed Mr Turner returned to the Terawhiti, but the inflatable was later found drifting 20m from the boat, and his body was found in the water nearby.
Mr Crerar said: "Although there is no evidence of an acute cardiac event, it must be noted that the autopsy report does not indicate classic signs of drowning and the expression cold water immersion must be taken note of.
"While struggling in the water, there is a possibility or a probability that Neil Turner suffered a cardiac arrhythmia, which would have precluded his self-rescue.
"The medical reports and the coronial autopsy report place Neil Turner at a high risk for such an occurrence."
He recommended Maritime New Zealand continue with its efforts to make the wearing of lifejackets compulsory, and to publicise the dangers of cold water immersion.
Cold water immersion
•Cold water can kill quickly.
•The initial shock of entering cold water can cause a large gasp for air, and a massive increase in lung and heart effort.
•This can result in muscle spasm, drowning or a heart attack.
•The human body is designed to operate best at about 37C.
•A drop of a couple of degrees is all it takes to throw our equilibrium off balance.
•In waters of 10C, the average person will become semi-conscious or unconscious within an hour.
•A person's extremities quickly become numb and unable to function normally.
•Fine motor skills disappear, making it difficult to grab or hold on to items.
•Severe pain interferes with rational thought within minutes.
•Hypothermia, unconsciousness and death can follow rapidly.
- Maritime New Zealand
- Additional reporting, John Lewis, Otago Daily Times
