Water safety body calls for increased education on risks of coastal fishing

Water safety body, Drowning Prevention Auckland, is calling for more education on the risks of coastal fishing activities following the tragic drowning of two men who went missing while fishing from the rocks at Taiharuru, north of Whangārei Heads.

The two men, who had recently migrated from India, were reported missing on Wednesday and one of their bodies was found on Friday. The loss of life has been described as devastating by Drowning Prevention Auckland chief executive, Nicola Keen-Biggelaar.

Keen-Biggelaar emphasized the importance of safety measures when engaging in rock-based fishing, highlighting the remote and unpredictable nature of coastal areas. She stressed the need for wearing life jackets, proper footwear, and ensuring that someone knows your whereabouts while fishing.

In light of the incident, Drowning Prevention Auckland has launched initiatives to improve water safety within the Indian community, including a life jacket campaign and targeted advertising on Radio Tarana.

The organization has also outlined four key points for safe rock-based fishing, including being prepared to float, fishing with a friend, checking the tide conditions, and knowing your limits.

Keen-Biggelaar urged locals to take responsibility for ensuring the safety of those engaging in coastal activities and emphasized the importance of intervention when necessary.

The aim is to prevent further tragedies and promote a culture of water safety awareness among all communities in New Zealand.