Man drowned during 'brave rescue attempt' - coroner

Family walk the stretch of Iwitea beach, north of Wairoa, where Sage Smith and his 7-year-old nephew Kustom Blandford drowned. Photo / Christine Cornege

A man who died trying to save his young nephew - who also died - was attempting what a coroner has called "a brave rescue... without regard for his own safety".

Sage Wi Smith, 22, and Kustom Michael Soljah Blandford, 7, drowned on November 4, 2013, at Iwitea Beach, Wairoa, near Gisborne.

They were close to Iwitea Marae where their family had gathered to celebrate a wedding.

"Sage drowned attempting a brave rescue of his younger relative without regard for his own safety, and I extend my heartfelt sympathy to Sage and Kustom's whanau on this devastating double tragedy," Coroner Carla na Nagara said in her finding into the deaths released today.

The finding followed an inquest that heard Mr Smith, Kustom, Isabelle Walker, 8, and Ocean Smith, 9, went for a walk to see 12 sacred totara that lie in the sand dunes at Korito, near the marae.

As they walked towards the dunes they came across Ian Denton, a farmer on the land they were walking through.

He told the inquest that he said to the group: "There are two rules. Number one being don't paddle or swim in the beach because it is very dangerous and number two close all the gates behind you."

Mr Denton said the group "seemed all happy, laughing and giggling".

At the inquest, Ocean Smith, Mr Smith's sister, said that when the group arrived at Iwitea Beach, her brother told the youngsters they were only allowed to get their feet wet, and they had to hold hands while they paddled.

When a large wave formed, Mr Smith rushed to where the children were paddling. Coroner na Nagara said Mr Smith grabbed his sister but lost grip of Kustom as he was caught in the big wave. Isabelle made her own way out of the water.

Isabelle told the inquest that Mr Smith, who was wearing heavy boots and jeans, managed to get Ocean to safety.

"And he took off his shirt to go after Kustom, but Kustom was too... far out... in the water, and then Sage... swam to get Kustom... he was yelling out "uncle, uncle" and Sage was yelling out to Kustom really loud."

Mr Smith and Kustom were swept in opposite directions beyond the girls' sight.

Isabelle and Ocean ran back to Mr Denton and told him what happened.

Mr Denton sent the girls back to the marae and headed to the beach on his 4WD to try to find Mr Smith and Kustom.

There was no sign of either and Mr Denton called police. A search involving the Eastland Rescue Helicopter was launched.

Kustom's body was found at 1.30pm, and Mr Smith's about an hour later.

Both bodies had obvious signs of drowning when they were found and no post-mortems were carried out, Coroner na Nagara said.

After the incident, whanau told the Herald a funeral service was held for Mr Smith and Kustom in Wairoa.

Their bodies were taken to Iwitea Marae and then on to Nuhaka to be buried.

The wedding took place at the Mormon church next to the cemetery where they were buried.