Man died trying to save lamb, family say

The family of an elderly man found dead in a sewage pond in western Southland yesterday believe he was trying to rescue a lamb.

The man, named by The Southland Times as Sidney Randolph Harris, 84, was found in the sewage pond at Tuatapere, 87km northwest of Invercargill, about 1pm yesterday.

His daughter, Shirley Whyte, said the family believed Mr Harris had tried to get a lamb out of the pond but been unable to get out himself.

"It would have been a spur-of-the-moment thing. All he wanted to do was to save his lamb," she told the newspaper.

Her father had wanted to die with his boots on and his dog nearby. His dog was also in the pond but survived.

- NZPA