Man killed in falls crash named

The man who died when his car plunged off the road into the Whangarei Falls yesterday was Rex Henwood, believed to be in his 50s.

Police said local man, Frederick Chapman, 23, deserved high praise for diving into the water in an unsuccessful bid to rescue Mr Henwood, who may have died from a medical disorder.

The falls in the northern Whangarei suburb of Tikipunga, were only a short distance from Mr Chapman's home.

When he heard the crash he ran to the falls and dived in to try to save Mr Henwood.

He pulled Mr Henwood from the submerged car and dragged him ashore but he died in spite of resuscitation efforts by Mr Chapman and others.

- NZPA