Police have today named the man who drowned on Saturday evening while snorkelling south of Kaikoura.
He was Vincent He (32) from Boston in the US. He had been in Christchurch for two weeks working with Habitat for Humanity.
Mr He, who had been on a day trip to the area with a group from Christchurch, was last seen about 6.30pm, and his friends contacted police about 8.10pm when they could not locate him.
A search launched that night failed to find him. When it resumed on Sunday morning, Mr He's body was found about 11.45am not far from where he had gone missing.
Sergeant Barry Hansen of Kaikoura Police said it appeared Mr He had become tangled in kelp while snorkelling. He was not wearing flippers.
Sergeant Hansen said Mr He's companions performed a haka on the beach as his body was recovered.
