Near-drowning problems well-known

Dying of complications after escaping drowning is "incredibly uncommon" according to Matt Claridge of Water Safety New Zealand.

Claridge said death after being pulled alive from the water happened about once a year in New Zealand. Of all near-drownings, only about 1.5 are admitted to hospital for observation for 24 hours.

Dr Simon Mitchell, of the University of Auckland School of Medicine, said it is well-known that people who have escaped drowning can get sick with lung complications.

Such incidents usually occur within 24 to 48 hours after the event.

Last year, 98 people drowned in New Zealand - the lowest figure since the data was first collected in 1980.

Drowning is the third highest cause of accidental death in New Zealand, behind road vehicle crashes and falls. The drowning toll for New Zealand is still twice that of Australia, on a per capita basis.