Sudden change fatal for surfers, coroner finds

The coroner investigating the deaths of two surfers at Omaio, in the eastern Bay of Plenty, in February said the conditions which led to their drowning could not have been foreseen.

Whakatane men Greg Kerei Boynton-Shaw and Brandon Tony Jarrett, both 31, drowned while surfing near Omaio on February 29, coroner Ian Bentley found.

Mr Bentley said the pair and their friend Adrian Barlow, all experienced surfers, took to the water in what were good conditions "but the conditions changed very, very quickly".

"I don't think the circumstances could have been foreseen".

Mr Bentley said that from Mr Barlow's account, the men were clearly not likely to take risks, "but surfing big waves is part of the dream of being a surfer".

Mr Barlow told the inquest how he, Mr Boynton-Shaw and Mr Jarrett loved surfing big waves but never intentionally took risks which would put their lives in danger.

In the aftermath of Cyclone Ivy the three travelled east from Whakatane looking for good waves, finding ideal surfing conditions at Omaio at 1pm, with clean waves of 2.5m.

After surfing for more than an hour the swell grew quickly and the men decided to come ashore.

By that time the waves had more than doubled in size.

Mr Barlow came in first, dumped on the shore by a huge wave.

He then saw his friends were in trouble.

As Mr Jarrett was being "dumped and sucked around" near the shore after losing his surfboard, Mr Barlow said he tied a rope to himself. With the help of passers-by he spent 20 minutes trying to get to his friend, all the while being pounded back by the surf.

Mr Boynton-Shaw disappeared and his surfboard was found later that day.

Constable Floyd Pratt, of Te Kaha, who is experienced in sea rescues, said that when he arrived at the beach the conditions were some of the worst he had ever seen.

Mr Pratt said a kaumatua told him the sea conditions were worse than during both Cyclone Bola and the Wahine storm.

A major search, initially involving more than 150 people, found no trace of the men.

Mr Boynton-Shaw's body was discovered near Lottin Pt on March 23, about 70km along the coast from Omaio. Mr Bentley said that although Mr Jarrett's body had not been recovered he was satisfied he could conclude the cause of his death.

Greg Boynton-Shaw's stepfather, Rob Shaw, said the inquest provided some closure after "a hard two months", comforted by the overwhelming support of the community.

- NZPA