Click photo to enlarge
Central Otago police officers and Coastguard members return
to shore during the search on Lake Onslow yesterday. Photo
by Rosie Manins.
An autopsy will be performed on the body of a man who
died while fishing on Lake Onslow in Central Otago at the
weekend.
The body of Kevin Donald Croad (48), livestock worker, of
Gore, was found yesterday afternoon after he went missing
while fishing about 2pm on Saturday.
He had entered the water to untangle fishing lines which had
caught on the boat's propellers, police said.
Wind pushed the boat - which was about 12m from shore on the
lake's southwest corner - away from Mr Croad and although a
friend threw him a paddle, he sank before he could be
rescued.
Members of the Wellington-based police dive squad retrieved
his body from the lake about 1.40pm yesterday as his family
and friends watched from the shore.
He was found on the bottom of the lake at a depth of about
4m, about 3m from where he was last seen.
Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw, of Alexandra, said Mr Croad
was not wearing a life jacket.
"If there is a lesson to be learned, it is that life jackets
should be worn on all occasions when people go in or on
water.""Although the death of Mr Croad is a tragedy, it is of
some comfort to his family and friends that he could be
recovered from the lake in such a timely manner.
It's a tribute to all the searchers involved that this result
could be achieved," Det Sgt Shaw said.
The man's family and friends declined to comment yesterday.
Police are not sure whether Mr Croad died as a result of a
medical event or from drowning.
"The matter has been referred to the coroner and we are
keeping an open mind," Det Sgt Shaw said. Alcohol was not a
factor, he said.
Mr Croad was part of a group which regularly travelled to
Lake Onslow.
They arrived on Friday night and planned to stay the weekend
in a fishing hut before returning home yesterday.
The group initially embarked on their own search for about 45
minutes before getting a cellphone signal and alerting
police.
A diver and helicopter were dispatched from Alexandra before
police arrived to undertake their initial search on Saturday,
which was suspended about 6.30pm "when it was apparent Mr
Croad's chances of survival were minimal", Det Sgt Shaw said.
Weather conditions were fine apart from a "steady, cool
southerly"; the water temperature was only about 10degC, he
said.
"We remained hopeful but realistic about his chances of
survival . . . we were at 2500ft (762m) on a high country
Otago lake.
It was very exposed and hugely susceptible to the weather,
and there was a sense of urgency," Det Sgt Shaw said.
Five members of the Wellington-based police dive squad
arrived at the lake yesterday to join the search, which
resumed about 8am.
Det Sgt Shaw said members of Mr Croad's family, as well as
friends, also arrived yesterday to help search.
Two Central Otago members of New Zealand Land Search and
Rescue were involved, as well as two Central Otago coastguard
members and four police officers from Alexandra, Roxburgh,
and Ranfurly.
Last month, three South Canterbury men drowned on Lake
Tekapo, and a fisherman also died on Lake Rotoma, near
Rotorua.
None were wearing life jackets, Maritime New Zealand
spokeswoman Sophie Hazelhurst said.
Maritime New Zealand was pushing for the wearing of life
jackets to be made compulsory for boats under 6m, she said.
rosie.manins@odt.co.nz
