English tourist Simon Constable jumped into the water to try to help the man. Photo / Gisborne Herald
English tourist Simon Constable jumped into the water to try to help the man. Photo / Gisborne Herald
Emergency services have praised the actions of a young English tourist who tried to save a Malaysian man who is believed to have lost his life after jumping off the Tolaga Bay wharf on the East Coast.
The search resumed this morning for the 38-year-old man, who is presumed to have drowned in turbulent water under the wharf, 50km north of Gisborne.
He was with his family in a tour group that visited the wharf on a trip around the coast.
Police have not yet released his name.
His distraught parents, sister and aunt were on the wharf with him.
Emergency services search for the missing man off Tolaga Bay wharf. Photo / Gisborne Herald
"The group with East Bro tours were at the end of the wharf at about 2.30pm when the incident happened," said search co-ordinator Sergeant Greg Lexmond.
"The missing man's sister saw her brother get into trouble and asked other tour party members for help."
English tourist Simon Constable, aged 20, from Yorkshire, was just drying off after he had jumped off the wharf himself.
"I went down the ladder on the side of the wharf and saw the man clinging to one of the piles underneath.
"He had the pile in a bear hug and I dived in to help him," Mr Constable said.
"As I swam towards him, he let go of the pile and was drifting. I grabbed him from behind under his arms but a wave came and pushed us against another pile.
"We both went under the water and at that point I lost him."
When Mr Constable surfaced there was no sign of the man.
"I searched around for about five minutes, then went back to the ladder."
Mr Lexmond praised Mr Constable's actions.
"It was very noble of him to dive in and do his best to save the guy.
"He must be feeling it now, given the outcome."
Tolaga Bay volunteer fire brigade members were the first emergency service on the scene.
"That was a fairly gutsy move for Mr Constable to jump in to help in those conditions and he should be commended in some way for it," said Tolaga Bay chief fire officer Ray Dever.
"Jumping off the end of the wharf is on the itinerary for the tour company but I question whether the conditions yesterday afternoon were safe enough.
"A school group staying at the motor camp cancelled their wharf-jumping plans yesterday because of the size of the swell," he said.
Swells of more than a metre were sweeping along the wharf yesterday.
"There was a big swell coming through and the conditions were marginal for people who were confident in their ability in the water," Mr Lexmond said.
"We have widened the search area out to take in the Uawa River, Karaka Bay north of Tolaga, Cooks Cove and along the coast south to Loisels (Waihau Beach, south of Tolaga Bay)," Mr Dever said.
The police national dive squad started an underwater search this morning.
"They started at the point where the man was last seen," Mr Lexmond said.
The search also involves the rescue helicopter, IRBs and shore teams.
"I am hopeful we will find him," Mr Lexmond said.
"Sea conditions have moderated significantly today and that will help with the search.
