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A body has been recovered from Wellington’s harbour after a person jumped from a crane and failed to surface from the water.
The police dive squad had earlier been searching the water after being alerted to the incident at the Hikitia Floating Crane about 12.45pm.
The crane is permanently moored in Wellington’s Harbour.
A police spokesperson confirmed the person who jumped from the crane had been found dead about 2.35pm.
“Police will be undertaking inquiries into the circumstances of this incident, however at this early stage there is no further information or comment available.
The police dive squad searching the Wellington Harbour for a person who failed to surface after jumping from the crane.
The Hikitia is close to the Taranaki Street Dive Platform where the Z World Manu Champs are scheduled to take place this weekend.
Scott Rice, the organiser for the Manu World Champs, told the Herald the incident occurred outside the area where the competition is scheduled to be held tomorrow.
“This is a very tragic event and right now our thoughts are with those who are affected. We are waiting to hear more.”
Wellington Free Ambulance also attended the incident but referred the Herald to police for any further information.
Police search the Wellington Harbour after a person failed to surface after jumping from a crane.
A week before his death, another person had been filmed jumping from the crane and the video had gone viral, sparking police to warn about the dangers of it.
Maritime Heritage Trust of Wellington owns the crane. It discussed various possible security measures after the video went viral but little was done.
“We considered possible ways we could contain any copycat [behaviour],” trustee Malcolm McGregor said at the time.
“Fences would be pushed over. We’ve been talking about possibilities since that thing went viral last week and we thought of all kinds of mad, crazy ideas. Whatever we think of, it comes down to if somebody’s determined they will get on board and do it.”
Water Safety New Zealand (WSNZ) Chief Executive Daniel Gerrard said this incident emphasises the importance of safety and decision-making in water-related activities and highlights the risks associated with unauthorised and unsupervised jumping activities.
”The recent tragedy reinforces our resolve at WSNZ to educate and advocate for safe practices,” Gerrard said.
“Through initiatives like the Z Manu World Championship, we aim to engage directly with enthusiasts, promoting safety in a sport that is not just about skill but also about respecting the water and understanding its risks.”
Vita Molyneux is a Wellington-based journalist who covers breaking news and stories from the capital. She has been a journalist since 2018 and joined the Herald in 2021.
