West Coast whitebaiters should swallow their pride and invest in slim-line lifejackets, chief coroner Judge Neil MacLean says.
His recommendation was made in his findings on Monday from the inquest into the death of Hokitika whitebaiter Kevin Stephen (Ned) Kelly, who drowned after being swept into the mouth
of the Hokitika River on October 21 last year.
Mr Kelly, 61, was an experienced and cautious fisherman, but he was knocked over when a rogue wave caught him from behind and swept him from a sandy spit.
Constable Neil Gillespie was summoned to Sunset Point just after 1pm but saw no sign of Mr Kelly until a swell swept his body back on to the spit 20 minutes later.
One witness, fellow whitebaiter and friend Kevin Lyes, said the tragedy had prompted him to buy a lifejacket.
His family had "been on at him" for years to wear a lifejacket but he thought it would be "a bit pansy-like" and would hinder his fishing. He had worn a jacket ever since and it was no hindrance.
Judge MacLean said it was not known whether a lifejacket would have saved Mr Kelly but for $200 it was a small investment that had big life-saving potential, especially for whitebaiters.
- NZPA
