Man who died in Manawatū River incident named

Friday, 29 December 2017

The man who died at the Manawatū River was Tyrone Junior Hempel.

Police have released the name of the 24-year-old man who died at the Manawatū River this week.

Tyrone Junior Hempel died on Wednesday afternoon at the river near Maxwells Line in Palmerston North.

Police have been unable to confirm if Hempel drowned and have referred his death to the coroner.

Several people unsuccessfully attempted to resuscitate him at the scene, including 14-year-old Bailee Head.

Bailee previously told Stuff she was cooling down at a swimming spot when Hempel was seen struggling in the water.

After hearing cries for help from a woman nearby, Bailee ran over to see how she could help.

'We just left our stuff there and ran over. I didn't really know what to do,' Bailee said. 'I didn't want to be that person that sat around and just watched.'

She checked his pulse and tried to communicate with him but he wasn't responding.

Hempel was swimming with his cousin, who was in shock and tears during the ordeal, Bailee said.