Man dies on yacht during Xmas party

Forensics officers on board the Quest II. Photo / Herald on Sunday

A Christmas party on a luxury yacht turned tragic with the "suspicious death" of a party-goer.

A police forensic team spent hours yesterday on the Quest II luxury yacht at Auckland's Viaduct, examining the top deck where a 40-year-old man died the night before.

The police communications centre confirmed that officers were called to attend the death of a male at berth 13. An officer at the scene confirmed police were investigating a "suspicious death" but refused to be drawn on details.

The man was described last night as a friend of a staff member from Pacific Hygiene Ltd, which hired out the Quest II for the company's Christmas party.

Company director Rodney Downs said there had been desperate efforts to save the man's life. "It was a terrible tragedy. We don't know the cause of death but everyone is shattered."

Downs said the man who died had been drinking during the afternoon, although it was unknown if that played a role in his death. He said the company party had been under way for 90 minutes when the man began acting "a bit funny". The man's behaviour concerned the yacht's skipper, and efforts were made to calm him.

"So we quietened him down. He sat down in the lounge upstairs and then suddenly bang ... Thankfully we had a trauma nurse from Auckland Hospital who was on board ... but we couldn't save him." The man died about 9.45pm.

"It's obviously put a damper because our staff have all been with us for a very long time."

About 40 people at the party were interviewed by police after the yacht returned to its berth in the Viaduct.

The fire service helped police preserve the scene of the man's death, fitting a cover across the top deck of the boat overnight. It was replaced yesterday with police crime scene tape and a security guard, while three forensics officers in boiler suits went to work.

The Herald on Sunday watched as the officers measured the boat and took fingerprints. They also took away bags of items collected from the boat. A sketch on one officer's clipboard appeared to show the location of the man's body - next to a drink table and between two couches.

A spokesman for St John northern communications said the incident was referred to police at 9.45pm. A Viaduct waitress saw ambulances come into the Viaduct's entrance with lights flashing, but leave with no lights or sirens.

Hospitality Association chief executive Bruce Robertson said workmates needed to intervene at work parties before "it was too late".

"When somebody gets into a state that they've had enough just get a water and put it in front of them, and get some food into them."

* Tragic partying

The Christmas party season has seen tragedy in the recent past. In 2006, Kalli Benjamin died after falling 5m at the SkyCity convention centre. The 35-year-old mother-of-three had been celebrating at the GE Money staff Christmas party.

And in 2000, Gareth MacFadyen, 24, died three days after suffering horrific burns as a result of a Christmas party prank. Another staff member also received serious burns when MacFadyen's fancy dress grass skirt was set alight at the Merrill Lynch end-of-year function.

Investment banker Matthew Schofield later pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY REPORTING TEAM: Carolyne Meng-Yee, Anna Leask, Heather McCracken and Rebecca Lewis