Swimmer missing at Maruia Falls, another pulled from water

Friday, 24 June 2022

One person is missing after swimming at Maruia Falls, south of Murchison in the Tasman district.

Police were notified of the missing person about 12.10pm on Friday after it appeared some people had gone swimming at Maruia Falls, off State Highway 65, south of Nelson, a police spokesperson said.

They said one person was “pulled from the water” while a second person was missing.

On Friday afternoon a spokesperson said that the police dive squad had been notified and aimed to begin a thorough search in the area on Saturday morning.

**READ MORE:

* 'Legendary' bull found 80km from home after West Coast floods

* Hypothermic man found by hunters at Maruia airlifted to hospital

* Person dies suddenly at Rainbow Falls in Kerikeri

**

A rescue helicopter had initially searched the area below the falls without success.

A St John spokesperson said they treated one patient at the scene. They had been taken to Nelson Hospital with moderate injuries.

Maruia Falls is a popular stop-off point for travellers on the inland route between Christchurch and Nelson.

The 11-metre waterfall was created after the 1929 Murchison earthquake and has been gradually growing in height.

The falls have signs warning people against swimming because of a strong undercurrent.

Several people have drowned at the falls in the past decade. In 2017, Breanna Charlotte Lattimore, 24, died after she was pulled under by an eddy when swimming at the bottom of the falls.

In 2014, then Conservation Minister Nick Smith called for a review of safety barriers and signage at the falls after Christchurch man Darryl Rolton, 54, died while trying to rescue a friend who was sucked over the falls while swimming in a pool above them.

Correction: Breanna Charlotte Lattimore died in 2017 when swimming at the bottom of the falls. She did not jump from the top. Amended 7.30am, June 25, 2022