Two die in river tragedy

Press, 27 February 1986, Page 1

Two die in river tragedy

Bv

ANDREW MACALISTER

Two persons died and one survived when their dinghy overturned in surf at the mouth of the Hurunui River early yesterday morning in conditions residents said were unsuitable for the craft.

The accident happened when the dinghy capsized at the rivermouth after being swept out of control by the current of the flooded river. The two who died were Ray Francis Nelson, aged 27, of Christchurch; ■■■and'- ? Isabelle Rodger, aged 26, a housewife, of Beach Road, Christchurch.

Their bodies were recovered from the sea later in the day.

. The husband of the dead woman, Kenneth James Rodger, aged 29, a male nurse, was rescued from the sea suffering

from hypothermia and salt water inhalation. He was reported in a comfortable condition in Christchurch Hospital last evening. One. resident, Mr Paul Davies, said the river was up “by about 1 foot, and the sea was rough with 6 feet to 8 feet breakers.” “As far as I’m concerned I would not have tried to cross so close to the river entrance, especially by rowing," he said. The drama began just before 7 a.m. when the trio launched their 3 metre dinghy in the river lagoon to go fishing near the rivermouth.

At 7.5 a.m. the dinghy was being rowed, across the river when Mr Rodger jumped from the dinghy on to the river’s south bank to hold it, but he subsequently slipped. The dinghy was then caught by the current and

capsized. Mr Rodger was also swept away with the dinghy.

Mr Dale Coulter, of Christchurch, who had been fishing nearby, said he and a companion had been offered a ride in the dinghy, but had declined.

In a statement to the police, he said the pair left in the dinghy “disappeared” as soon as it capsized. The police and rescue services were alerted by a farmer and at 8 a.m. the sole survivor, Mr Rodger, was picked up by a Royal New Zealand Air Force helicopter about two miles offshore. He was then taken to Christchurch Hospital.

An extensive air and sea search continued and at 10,15 a.m. the body of Mrs Rodger was found ‘floating further offshore. At one stage four, helicopters and a local fishing

boat were searching the area round the rivermouth in blustery, southerly conditions. , The body of Mr Nelson was not seen until it was washed up near the rivermouth about 12.30 p.m. He had been wearing thigh-length waders and overtrousers. His companions had also been wearing heavy clothing. None wore lifejackets. The , dinghy was recovered about 10 a.m. by a fishing boat.

The trio were believed to have been visiting the area in a caravan. Constable Kirk Newman, of Cheviot, urged people to be more conscious of dangers at rivermouths.

The tragedy was the first loss of life at a North Canterbury rivermouth since a man drowned off the Waiau River in late 1984.