Family loses second son to beach tragedy

A NORTHLAND family is in mourning after a man died on a Far North beach almost five years to the day after his brother was killed in a motorbike accident close by.
Family and friends of Ben Levi Mitcalfe gathered at his parent's Far North home in Kaitaia yesterday after his body was discovered on rocks near Shipwreck Bay on Sunday.
Police are still investigating but said a post mortem examination carried out in Auckland yesterday gave them some clues as to how the 33-year-old Ahipara man died.
The examination found that Ben Mitcalfe drowned and police are not seeking anyone else in connection with his death.
The tragedy came five years and two days after Ben's brother 24-year-old Asher Mitcalfe died when his motorbike plunged off a sandhill at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach on February 15, 2003.
Their father Mike Mitcalfe said it was a tough time for the family but they had the support from plenty of people in the community.
"It's bizarre, the dates being so similar. It's bringing back a lot of memories but we're lucky we have a lot of people around us," Mike Mitcalfe said.
He said his eldest son was a keen surfer, who worked as a tiler around the Far North.
"Ben was familiar with the coastline round here, he grew up here ... it was his playground," he said.
Ben, who has one daughter, was well known for his sense of humour and outgoing attitude to life.
"His mates will say he's a bit of a practical joker ... a clown even."
The family believed Ben had been drinking with friends on Saturday night and chose not to take a vehicle with him because of the risk of being caught drink driving.
Instead he had tried to walk along the beach to his home.
Mr Mitcalfe said his son must have had a serious fall on the rocks.
Northland police crime manager Detective Inspector Mike Pannett said a resident walking along the beach at Shipwreck Bay discovered the fully-clothed body among rocks about 10.30am on Sunday. Police believed the body had been in the water overnight.
A section on the beach was cordoned off to the public on Sunday as police scoured the scene for clues.
Meanwhile, police are still waiting for a forensic scientist to complete the examination of a skeleton found in Whangarei Harbour on February 2. It is thought the bones are those of Myke Howard who went missing on July 28, 2003.
He was last seen drinking with a group of people at Whangarei Town Basin.
Police are not ruling out foul play in Mr Howard's death and are awaiting the results of a post mortem examination to determine the cause of death.
A kayaker exploring the mouth of Otaika River earlier this month found the remains in mangroves.