Seal phone in bag coroner urges boaties

The simple precaution of sealing a mobile phone in a plastic bag could have prevented a man from drowning, the Nelson Coroner's Court heard.

Lyle George Gear, of Nelson, was killed in a boating accident off Rabbit Island on September 8 last year after his 4m vessel capsized in large waves.

Coroner Ian Smith yesterday ruled that the drowning was accidental but could have been prevented by further safety precautions.

The court heard that Mr Gear had set out at 12.30pm with friend David McRae to dredge scallops in Tasman Bay.

Mr McRae said the boat hit 1.5m waves as it went through the channel near Rabbit Island. The pair decided to proceed slowly but were hit by three or four waves, which capsized the boat.

They clung to a fuel tank and began kicking towards Rabbit Island.

Mr McRae said he noticed his mobile phone float past but it was rendered useless.

After two hours of kicking against an outgoing tide, they had made little progress, so he swam 300m to shore and called police on a passerby's cellphone.

Mr Smith said if Mr McRae's cellphone had been sealed in a watertight bag, the death might not have occurred. He said all boaties should take that precaution.

- NZPA

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/marine