The 54-year-old Nelson man who drowned after falling from a wharf in Kaikoura has been named as Robert Murray Chapman.
Police said Mr Chapman, also known as Robert Bull, drowned after he fell from the town's new wharf while fishing on Wednesday night.
Senior Sergeant Peter Payne yesterday said his friend saw him holding on to a wharf pile and ran to raise the alarm.
Searchers on the Kaikoura Coastguard vessel found the man's body at 12.15am, about 100 metres from where he fell in.
"The victim was wearing heavy clothing and work boots,'' Mr Payne said.
