The Rotorua boatie who plucked four men from Lake Rotorua may have been just moments away from saving William Rouppe van der Voort.
The man, who wanted to be known only as Ross, said he and a friend were motoring back to Reeme St boat ramp after some afternoon fishing when they heard screams for help.
"We couldn't see them at first, but we heard their cries for help about 100m ahead of us," he said.
"There were two in the water, and two clinging on to the upturned boat.
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