Coroner calls for mandatory life jackets after three fishing deaths

Coroner Michael Robb urges mandatory life jackets for rock fishers after three deaths at Papanui Pt. Photo / Paul Martin

By RNZ

A coroner wants an urgent law change to make wearing life jackets mandatory for all rock fishers, following the deaths of three men at a notorious Waikato fishing spot.

Raymond Bensig and Nicholas Narayan were swept off rocks at Papanui Pt in August 2023 and Yaojun Li drowned there in January last year.

At least 18 people lost their lives between 1980 and 2023, many of them experienced fishers heading out in calm conditions.

A person who fell into the water there on Monday is still missing.

Coroner Michael Robb said there were signs warning about the dangers of fishing from the rocks, the risk from rogue waves and telling people they should wear a life jacket.

He said none of those who died was wearing a life jacket and no one who drowned after being swept off rocks anywhere in New Zealand has been wearing a life jacket.

The Coroner said rock fishers appeared willing to go to extraordinary lengths, including putting themselves in dangerous positions, to give themselves the best chance of catching fish.

He said making it compulsory for anyone fishing from rocky coastline to wear a life jacket was the only thing that might increase their chances of survival.

“For anyone rock fishing, who ends up in the water at Papanui Pt or any other area of rugged rocky New Zealand coastline, being able to stay afloat for an extended period is the only thing that is going to allow emergency services to successfully save a life.”

- RNZ