Nothing more coroner can do to stop treacherous Raglan fishing spot claiming lives

Wednesday, 3 March 2021

A treacherous Raglan fishing spot is continuing to claim lives and a coroner says there is nothing more they can recommend.

Doyle Frickey, 67, died in 2017 after he went fishing at Papanui Point in Ruapuke on September 25.

His body was found on the shoreline north of Papanui Point, a rugged beach near Raglan, on December 4, 2017.

Frickey is not the first person to die in this fishing spot, and he hasn't been the last.

**READ MORE:

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* Wave claimed Te Awamutu teenager Jack Macnicol while fishing off rocks near Raglan

* Teenager swept from rocks vanishes at unforgiving fishing spot

* Body found on rugged beach near Raglan identified as Hamilton man

**

Michael Landig, 38, died at the same spot in November 2020 after being swept off the rocks. His body was found in January.

In a report Coroner Robb said Frickey arrived at the fishing spot on the rocks at Papanui Point in Ruapuke sometime after midnight on September 25.

This area is well known to local fishermen and is part of a rugged and steep outcrop.

On that day there were strong winds with a sea swell between one and three metres in height.

Frickey was employed as an anaesthetic technician by the Waikato District Health Board and was part of a close family, well-loved.

About 11am a couple fishing near Frickey saw his rod in the water with a fish attached and two shoes floating nearby.

They then saw him in the water, and called out to him before he disappeared under the rolling waves.

Others fishing nearby were alerted but despite their best efforts, nobody could see him.

Coastguard and police joined the search.

Despite extensive efforts Fickey could not be found. On December 3, 2017 his body was discovered north-east of Papanui Point on rocky shoreline near a cliff area.

Frickey was a successful fisherman who kept the family freezer well-stocked with fish, and his children were familiar with his favourite spot, having gone fishing with him there.

Robb said while he understood Frickey owned a life jacket, when fishing from the rocks he would not wear one.

The point is a steep and exposed area of the Raglan coastline, where a number of fishermen have been swept off the rocks in the past.

A sign in the car park above the point says “Danger” with a large “!” and highlights to stay well away from the waterline, never fish alone and wear a life jacket.

Robb said nobody saw exactly how Frickey came to be in the water.

But he was satisfied it was an accident after Frickey went to the waterline in an endeavour to land a large fish.

“Whether he was swept into the ocean by a rogue wave, or slipped on the rocks as he was trying to land the fish is unknown.

“Once in the water the steep edge of the rocks at the waterline made it very, very difficult for him to be able to exit from the water.”

Robb said looking at previous recommendations of warning signs, that life jackets should be worn and education around rock fishing and he had nothing additional to add.