Boy who drowned at Napier was 7-year-old Marama Te Pou

Monday, 24 February 2020

The beach at Napier shortly after Marama Te Pou was pulled from the sea.

The child who drowned at Napier on Friday was Marama Te Pou, a seven-year-old local boy.

Police released his name on Monday. His death has been referred to the coroner.

Marama was understood to be among a group of about five people at the water's edge beside a freedom camping carpark at the southern end of Marine Parade, when he was swept into the sea about 3.40pm on Friday.

The boy was swept into the sea off the southern end of Marine Parade at about 3.40pm on Friday.

A funeral notice posted on the Simplicity Bereavement Services Facebook page on Sunday said Marama, known as 'Boombie', was the beloved son of Liana Te Pou and Marama Te Waa.

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Coastguard sent a vessel to the site, between Napier and Clive, and the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter was deployed.

*Child drowns after being swept into sea at Napier**

'Much loved brother of Neshaiah and Chaz, Mithias and Autumn, Sapphire and Cedar, Shavaughn and Nathan, Halo and his twin Te Whetu Kotahi.'

His body was taken to Te Aranga Mārae in Flaxmere on Monday, and was to be laid to rest at Mangaroa Cemetery near Hastings on Tuesday.

The boy's whānau expressed their thanks to the wider Hawke's Bay community for their 'kind words and aroha … at this heart breaking time'.

A separate Facebook post from Marewa School, where Marama attended, said parent interviews scheduled for the week ahead had been postponed until the week after, in light of his death.

Coastguard sent a vessel to the site, between Napier and Clive, and the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter was deployed. Port of Napier also responded to the incident.

The sea was rough with large waves crashing on the shore.

Someone in the camp area called police, who arrived quickly. Two constables, a 27-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman – both trained lifesavers – entered the water to reach Marama.

The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter lifted the trio from the water, but Marama died at the scene.