A water safety expert says the fisherman who went missing from a notorious West Auckland beach last night highlights dangers faced by New Zealand’s Asian community.
The man, who is believed to have been looking for shellfish, was swept off rocks near Ninepin Rock at the mouth of the Manukau Harbour just before midnight on Friday.
Fishermen in the area told 1News family from the missing man were searching the beach today, and understood he was from the Chinese community.
Water Safety NZ chief executive Daniel Gerrard said the area was “one of our most notorious spots”.
“It’s not uncommon to hear stories such as this, where people are going out often to gather kai in that area, lose some footing and get swept off.”
He said New Zealand’s Asian population are overrepresented in drowning data.
“Asian New Zealanders, generally new New Zealanders, drown at a rate of about 2.5 times higher than that of the New Zealand European.
“That is exaggerated when it comes to gathering kai, so going out there to put food on the table puts them dramatically more at risk.”
Gerrard said a dialogue to explain risks and challenges to the community would be more beneficial than putting a sign up on a beach.
“It’s about engaging with them and the local boards within each of the communities to actually meet, sit down, and talk with some of the community leaders to provide the skills and knowledge so that these guys are safe when they do go out.”
Police said he was not wearing a lifejacket when he went into the water shortly before midnight.
Coastguard Papakura skipper Jim Levitt said volunteers combed the waters off Whatipu Beach in tough conditions well past midnight.
“The tide just started to turn and the seas were just getting worse and worse. We searched as best we could.”
He said having a life jacket on makes life a lot easier for searchers.
“Reflective strips make it easier for us to identify with our spotlights. It’s a lot harder to spot anyone with our life jacket on.”
Local fisherman Jere Alonso said he had been fishing in the area for 12 years.
“If you’re looking for shellfish… he must be at the bottom of the rocks and he didn’t notice any swell coming in,” said Alonso.
