Boat capsized in Manukau Harbour: Father-of-four, Parma Samy, dies in Auckland boating accident

A father-of-four who died after his boat capsized in Auckland’s Manukau Harbour yesterday has been remembered as a “very nice, very helpful man” who devoted himself to charity work and loved going fishing.

Māngere East resident Parma Samy, also known as Vimal, 52, died after his boat capsized on the Manukau Harbour at about 10am on Sunday.

Close friend Mohammed Ali Bobby told the Herald he sold Samy his house in 2008 and they stayed friends.

“He was a nice man, very calm and very helpful. I’ve been with him for a very long time,” he said.

“His home was going fishing. I used to go fishing with him every second week. At snapper season, we would be there.

“He took his mates today because his wife and his other mates were supposed to go for a family trip tomorrow.”

Bobby said the 52-year-old, who came from Fiji 20 years ago, had three daughters and one son all in their mid to late 20s.

“He was a really nice gentleman. He had been doing a lot of charity work,” he said.

“I’m a Muslim and he is of a Hindu culture, and he would say ‘Bobby, for Ramadan, take the fish, clean it up and give it to the mosque and feed them in Ramadan’.”

Parma Samy, 52, died after his boat capsized on Manukau Harbour.

Police said six other people were recovered from the water and were treated by ambulance staff.

The Coastguard Operations Centre said it was alerted at 9.39am to a vessel that had capsized on the Manukau Bar.

Coastguard Waiuku was immediately dispatched, and an all-stations mayday call was broadcast over VHF. Several nearby boaties responded without hesitation, helping to recover seven people from the water.

Volunteers from Coastguard Waiuku met the assisting vessels at Little Huia to provide first aid and check the wellbeing of those rescued.

“Tragically, one person passed away,” it said in a statement. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to their family and friends during this difficult time.”

Police and ambulance at Huia after a boat overturned on the Manukau Bar. Photo / Alex Burton

Coastguard vessels and the air patrol were stood down between 11am and 11.48am.

The Coastguard said in a statement that bars like the Manukau Bar can be unpredictable and dangerous.

“We encourage all boaties to refresh their knowledge by attending one of our Bar Awareness seminars, held across the country and online.”

In a statement, police thanked volunteers from Coastguard Waiuku, Coastguard Papakura and the Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol for their assistance.

A person at the scene described conditions as very settled.

David Williams is an Auckland-based Multimedia Journalist who joined the Herald in 2023. He covers breaking news and general topics.

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