Popular Petone barista Josh Leadbetter's death ruled as drowning

Joshua Leadbetter lived in Wainuiomata with his mother and two dogs. Photo/supplied

A beloved Lower Hutt barista who drowned in Wellington Harbour was not a strong swimmer, a coroner says.

Joshua Caleb Rongomai Leadbetter, 30, was asthmatic, a smoker, and liked to drink wine, but none of these things are believed to have contributed to his death on February 5 this year, coroner Tim Scott said in his report into the tragedy.

Leadbetter, who worked at Beannie cafe in Petone, had met up with his friend, Rachel Neale, who lived in Eastbourne. They went swimming together regularly and decided to do so that day.

Neale told the coroner she swam at the beach nearly every day. She said Leadbetter was not a strong swimmer and would normally go out to waist depth only.

She went into the water telling Leadbetter she was going to swim out to a raft which was permanently moored in the bay, and which takes about five minutes to swim to.

As she swam, she looked back and noticed Leadbetter appeared to be following her out. When she reached the raft she looked back to see him struggling in the water, moving his arms as if trying to swim, but not making any progress.

Neale yelled to Leadbetter but he did not respond, so she swam the two minutes back to where he was, and found him sinking face down into the water.

Neale pulled up his head and began dragging him back to the beach, calling for help. As she reached the shore, members of public arrived to help her and began giving Leadbetter CPR.

He was taken to Wellington Hospital but could not be revived, and attempts to do so were stopped about 5.15pm.

Scott determined Leadbetter died as a result of drowning.

Beannie Cafe owner Bev Robinson earlier told NZME that Leadbetter was a "rock star" in the cafe scene.

"He was vibrant and bubbly, he knew everybody's name, he knew what everybody drank."

Leadbetter lived in Wainuiomata with his mother and dogs, Ruby and Bruno.

Cafe co-owner Annie Robinson said that "Joshie" was "such a good soul, such a carefree beautiful human."