Hāhei Beach tragedy: Victim of cliff fall young boy on camping holiday with family

The northern end of Hāhei Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula, where the tragedy happened. A young person died after falling off the cliff. Photo / Al Williams

• A young boy died and a girl was rescued after falling from a cliff near Hāhei Beach.
• Thames-Coromandel District councillor Deli Connell emphasised the importance of sticking to designated paths.
• Mayor Len Salt said an investigation would be conducted, urging caution in the area.

The young boy who died and young girl who survived a cliff plunge were on a holiday with family at Hāhei, staying at a nearby campground.

It is understood the pair were part of a larger group spending time on the beach prior to the incident unfolding on Saturday evening.

They had scrambled up a cliff path before the boy aged 13 fell, plunging down the bank and suffering unsurvivable injuries.

The girl was stuck on the cliff with emergency services working late into the night to bring her down safely. She was rescued uninjured.

A local councillor says she’s heartbroken for the families after the death of the young person and has reiterated the importance of sticking to paths in the area.

Police said the two people were both aged under 18.

Thames-Coromandel District councillor for Mercury Bay, Deli Connell, said people need to be aware of their immediate surroundings and take good care of themselves.

“I am just heartbroken for the families and first responders. It was a tragic outcome.”

The northern end of Hāhei Beach on the Coromandel Peninsula, where the tragedy happened. Photo / Al Williams

Connell said to her knowledge, Cathedral Cove had been very busy following its reopening in December.

“If you stick to the paths you are fine, it’s a bit like sticking to the speed limits on the road or taking note of warnings at the beach.”

Thames-Coromandel District Mayor Len Salt said details of the incident were still coming in and a police investigation would determine what happened.

“Our hearts go out to the families and the loved ones of the young person who lost their life ... it’s heartbreaking to happen at any time of the year, certainly at this time.”

“We understand it was the north end of Hāhei in a cliff area, I’m still waiting for a full briefing,” says Thames-Coromandel Mayor Len Salt. Photo / Al Williams

Further details about exactly what happened would come from the police or St John, Salt said.

“We understand it was the north end of Hāhei in a cliff area, I’m still waiting for a full briefing.”

Salt said police were leading the investigation, and it was important that all matters were referred to them in the first instance.

“They are the appropriate authority to provide accurate details about what happened.”

On Sunday, the Department of Conservation said the incident did not occur on a DoC track.

Hāhei Beach. Photo / SunLive

Salt said it was possible it was a council track.

“That area there has a mix of DoC land, there’s some council responsibility for some of the beachfront area and there’s a lot of private land which is above those tracks as well, and there’s a number of walking tracks and beach access areas as well down there.

“It’s a tricky area, we always encourage people to stay to the tracks to make sure that, especially after dark, that they take extra care.”

Asked whether there was appropriate signage in the area, Salt said the council went “to extraordinary lengths” to put up appropriate signs and give guidance to people in tracks and access areas that could be dangerous or might have difficult access, but in this case the details were not available.

The local community was upset after the fatal incident, he said.

“It’s never easy for communities to manage, but in this case where you’ve got a young person who’s lost a life in a holiday community, an area where people go to enjoy their summer, it has an effect, there’s no doubt about it.”

– Additional reporting by RNZ