Signs warning of the dangers swimmers can face in the Bannockburn Inlet of the Kawarau River are expected to be in place by the middle of next month.
The signs were recommended by coroner Marcus Elliott in his finding on the cause of death of 19-year-old Ben Simon Gardner, who drowned in the inlet on December 10, 2016.
Central Otago District Council parks and recreation manager Gordon Bailey said yesterday council staff had suggested signage wording to Linz, which was arranging the signs.
Mr Elliott said Mr Gardner was a strong swimmer intending to access a pontoon about 30m from the shore.
"Mr Gardner was carrying a child with him as he went out.
"He experienced difficulties when he reached a point where the water became too deep to stand.
"His ability to remain afloat was made more difficult by the weight of the child he was carrying and by the presence of weeds.
"Although he stayed afloat for long enough for the child to be rescued, Mr Gardner was unable to remain afloat and drowned."
Mr Elliott said Mr Gardner’s death highlighted the importance of being vigilant about the dangers of swimming, especially in unfamiliar waters.
He recommended signs be erected warning of the water depth, the presence of weeds, the risks associated with swimming in the area and the need to supervise children.
Mr Elliott said Mr Gardner’s mother, Maxine Hankey, told police her son swam at school and dived for paua with his father.
"If we were ever near the water while on holiday, he would take whatever opportunity to get into the water to swim.
"I could consider him to be a strong swimmer."
Mr Gardner moved to Cromwell from Christchurch in June 2016, and it was his first visit to the inlet.
Glenn Shaw, the father of Mr Gardner’s partner, said he thought Mr Gardner would be able to walk to the pontoon with the child on his back.
Mr Elliott said about halfway to the pontoon, Mr Gardner called out that the bottom of the river had disappeared and he could not feel it.
Kerry Stainton-Herbert, who was at the inlet with her grandson, heard Mr Gardner call for help.
"He then yelled in a panic[ked] voice, ‘It’s deep and I can’t swim’," Ms Kerry Stainton-Herbert told the coroner.
Mr Shaw told police he started swimming out to Mr Gardner.
"I got into a bit of trouble myself as I had jeans on.
"I managed to get to Ben. He gave me [my niece].
"At some point I yelled at Ben to get on his back.
"I was getting dragged under. I managed to get my jeans off. I tried to get back to Ben but I could not find him at that stage."
A diver who was in the area, Robert Horne, found Mr Gardner face down in the lake weed at a depth of 4.8m.
"He was not tangled up," Mr Horne told the coroner.
Analysis of Mr Gardner’s blood showed no alcohol or drugs, and pathologist Dr Noelyn Hung concluded he died due to "fresh water drowning".
Mr Elliott suppressed the publication of "any photographs that show the deceased".
