An Invercargill businessman who was rock-fishing died after a wave swept him into the ocean, a coroner has ruled.
Stanley Chung-Chi Tsoi, 47, of Invercargill, died in October 2023, while fishing off the rocks at Slope Point, a notoriously perilous spot where other anglers had previously drowned. Slope Point is the southernmost tip of the South Island.
Mr Tsoi was a director of Sun Sun Holding Ltd, the company that owned Timaru Roast Invercargill.
In findings released today, Coroner Emma Hoskin ruled his death was an accidental drowning.
She said Mr Tsoi was not wearing a lifejacket at the time and hit his head on the rocks when he was pulled into the sea. He was knocked unconscious and drowned.
Mr Tsoi and his friend had fished in the area many times before. On October 3, 2023, the weather was fine, but the sea was rough.
Shortly after 2pm a large wave crashed over the rocks where the pair stood.
The friend kept his balance, but said Mr Tsoi was pulled into the sea.
A wave came over the rocks with water above the height of his knees and he looked up and Mr Tsoi was gone.
He saw Mr Tsoi unresponsive and face-up in the water being dragged out to sea.
Emergency services were notified and a nearby boat helped with the search.
His body was recovered about 1.5km offshore.
A pathologist concluded Mr Tsoi had drowned and also had suffered a head injury, which would have rendered him unconscious, but would not have been fatal.
The coroner noted the fishing spot was a ‘‘high-risk location’’ where other anglers had died.
In 2019, Shaun Orchard, 23, and Hendrix Kamo, 28, went missing off the rocks at Slope Point. A coroner ruled they had drowned.
The risks of rock-fishing were well publicised, Coroner Hoskin said, noting in August a coroner recommended an urgent law change to make lifejackets mandatory for rock-fishermen.
An application for non-publication of Mr Tsoi’s name was declined.
