Searchers pull body from sea on West Coast

Wednesday, 18 September 2024

A man was found dead after being swept down a creek and into the sea on the West Coast.

Police were notified about 10am on Wednesday that a person had gone into the water at Rapahoe, north of Greymouth, a spokesperson said.

A rescue helicopter was deployed, but was stood down after the body was found.

Fire and Emergency NZ assistant district commander Atila de Oliviera said emergency services were called to a man, possibly a whitebaiter, being swept down stream.

“Police retrieved the person from the water. We did CPR but he didn’t respond. Unfortunately he is deceased,” he said.

“He was retrieved from the sea. It’s quite rough out there and high tide [is] coming in.”

Bystander Geoff Bateman, who arrived at the scene after emergency services, said a police officer jumped into the sea at the river mouth to retrieve the man.

“She deserves a medal,” he said.

Rapahoe resident Ron Craig said Davy Creek (also known as Seven Mile Creek) was in flood and sea surges were coming upstream.

“The tide is very high. I usually walk my dog down at the lagoon but I can’t get down there today,” he said on Wednesday.

“There’s a lot of flood water coming down and you get a surge coming up there if you’re not watching out for it but the guys that whitebait down there are pretty switched on to what happens.”

The deceased man was believed to be a well known local resident, the Greymouth Star reported.

The police spokesperson said police were in the process of notifying next of kin.

“A man has died after being swept away in Davy Creek near Rapahoe in Grey District,” they confirmed.

“The man was recovered from the water and brought to shore, where CPR was performed. Tragically the man was unable to be revived.”