Te Arai beach in northern Auckland. (File photo) Photo: Sids1 / Flickr
Swimmers should choose beaches with lifeguards and watch out for rip currents a Coroner says following the death of a man at a surf beach north of Auckland.
Fifty-one-year-old Scott Duncan Gray drowned at Te Arai surf beach in February 2022, after getting caught in a rip current.
Associate Coroner Seung Youn identified drowning as the primary cause of death, with ischemic heart disease also contributing to the death.
The report said Gray was swimming in the sea with his family in a spot that was not marked by flags, and where there were no lifeguards.
They found themselves in distress, but his three other family members were able to swim back to the shore.
Gray was later recovered from the sea in an unresponsive state.
Emergency responders performed CPR on him, but he was unable to be resuscitated.
The Coroner found Gray, described by others as someone who'd never been a strong or confident swimmer, was caught in a high risk situation.
"The rip currents which would have formed likely have been strong with the wave at the mid stage of the incoming tide.
"It was believed that the combination of waves, mid tide, rip currents, and sudden changes in water depth posed considerable risk to water users at the time of the incident."
The Coroner made recommendations for swimmers to know their ability to swim and cope in conditions, and to stay out if there were any doubts.
Youn also recommended swimmers to be alert to rip currents, and to relax, float and signal for help with their hands when caught in one.
Youn urged swimmers to always choose a beach where there were lifeguards present, and to swim between the flags.
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