A Romanian volunteer who went missing while taking water temperature readings for the Department of Conservation on an isolated island more than two years ago most likely died from drowning, a Northland Coroner has ruled.
Mihai Muncus-Nagy, 33, was believed to have been carried out to sea on January 2, 2012, while working on Raoul Island's Fishing Rock, about 1100km northeast of Cape Reinga.
He was never found despite an extensive search undertaken by DoC workers on the island and by the New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre with a long-range helicopter.
In a final report released this week, Northland Coroner Brandt Shortland said based on the evidence he was satisfied that Mr Muncus-Nagy died most likely from drowning after trying to retrieve the thermometer and buoy that were stuck and lodged between rocks.
"This required him to to make his way down to the water's edge where the footing was less secure and in so doing, he has most likely fallen into the water, struggled and drowned," Mr Shortland said.