Napier drowning victim was Joseph Taurua Terrill

Thursday, 3 November 2016

Joseph Terrill, who died along Marine Parade earlier this week.

Police have released the name of the man who died while swimming in Marine Parade in Napier on Tuesday.

He was Joseph Taurua Terrill, aged 51.

The Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter was called in to retrieve a body from the sea off Marine Parade in Napier.

Terrill, who had recently moved to Napier from Tauranga, was swimming along Marine Parade Beach when he got into trouble.

Rescue teams rushed to save him but could not revive him when they pulled him out of the water.

Following his death, Napier City Council confirmed it was planning on putting more signs along Marine Pde warning people of the dangerous coastline.

Council spokeswoman Fiona Fraser said plans were in place to improve people's knowledge of the beach.

'We are already in the process of developing an information brochure in conjunction with Surf Lifesaving New Zealand and Hawke's Bay Regional Council that aims to educate residents and visitors on the safest swimming beaches in Hawke's Bay,' she said.

'We had also begun, prior to this incident, an assessment of our signage as part of the Marine Parade redevelopment project.

'Although signage is only one part of the safety equation, we hope to increase the number – and visibility – of safety signs along the foreshore.'

Five people have drowned in the waves off Napier's Marine Pde since 1996. Before Tuesday's drowning, the last victim of the coastline was 5-year-old Jago Kara, who was swept away while playing at the water's edge in January 2008.

Josh McQuoid, 12, nearly drowned in March 2013. It was only thanks to a dramatic rescue involving a human chain that he was rescued.

Since Jago's death in 2008, the 20 signs warning people not to swim on the beach had been reduced to 13. The council were unable to clarify why the amount had decreased.

Local woman Helen Waterworth said it was vital more warnings were put up.

'It might look flat, but there is always an undertow. There is nothing to tell them that.'

Chief executive of Water Safety NZ, Jonty Mills, said the more warnings along Marine Pde, the better.

'We would certainly encourage where there is a known risk to put up more signage. From our perspective anything which will help raise awareness we would support and encourage,' he said.

Terrill's death takes the number of deaths in New Zealand waters this year to 64.

Mills warned people to take extra care when enjoying the water in the warmer months.

'Be prepared and certainly watch out for yourself and others. Be aware of the dangers and know your own limits.'