Surf Life Saving NZ looks into swimmer's death

Swimmers get ready for the NZ Ocean Series Harbour Crossing. Photo / Richard Robinson

Surf Life Saving New Zealand will today begin investigating the death of a swimmer in his late 50s during the sixth annual Sovereign Harbour Crossing on Saturday.

Surf Life Saving chief executive Geoff Barry also warned yesterday that more attention needed to be paid to the health and well-being of participants in ocean swimming racing.

Mr Barry said the death was not due to a question of safety but a health and well-being issue.

"I did the Ocean Swim last year, and I have no qualms at all about the safety measures already in place, in terms of service provision from lifeguards," he said.

"The people who take part in these events are not necessarily fit, and they're not necessarily great swimmers.

"Whether people participating in all sorts of recreation events are fit, or fit enough to do what they're doing, is one of the factors that we need to look at."

The organisation will also look into gathering research into the safety of ocean swimming in New Zealand.

It is believed the Auckland man, who has not yet been named, suffered a heart attack early in the 2.8km race, which is part of the Ocean Swim series, across the Waitemata Harbour.

First aiders reached the man by boat. He was taken to a waiting ambulance but staff but they were unable to revive him. When police arrived at midday he was dead.

An autopsy is expected to be carried out today.

He is the fourth person to die during an Ocean Swim Series Race.

One person died during the Harbour Crossing in 2005, and two others died during the King of the Bays event in 2007 and 2008.

Mr Barry said the focus was to gather as much information as possible about what happened. He said there had been international research into fatalities in these types of events. Surf Life Saving New Zealand is interested in conducting a study based on local conditions. "We think we have had more then our fair share of fatalities," he said.

"We are looking at doing some research to look at some of the factors involved.

"We need to do a bit more work, maybe with Sport and Recreation New Zealand [Sparc] and Otago University to try to push a study along to find out a little bit more about this," he said.

"We don't have the resources to invest in that, so I'm going to have to find a partner who is willing to put in a few dollars ..."

Last night Ocean Swim Series Event director Scott Rice would not comment on the death except to say that he would be debriefing with Surf Life Saving New Zealand and the St Johns Ambulance Services.