Auckland fisherman's death 'avoidable' if he'd worn a lifejacket, coroner says

Wednesday, 2 February 2022

A coroner has warned a lifejacket could be “the difference between life and death” after a fisherman drowned on Auckland’s west coast.

Myung Kang, 57, went missing at Bethells Beach on January 5, 2019. His body was found by a member of the public at Woodhill Forest Beach, near Muriwai, almost a week later.

A coroner’s report has revealed Kang, who lived on the North Shore, had not been wearing a lifejacket while fishing from the rocks.

Kang, who was originally from South Korea, lived with his wife of 27 years and had two adult sons. His family became concerned on the evening of his disappearance as he wasn’t home.

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The next morning, his family reported him missing to police and a search and rescue operation began.

Coroner Alison Mills said in her report Kang had been diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2017, but had made a full recovery and was “generally healthy and very athletic” at the time of his death.

He was an avid fisherman and would go fishing off the rocks around twice a week.

Mills noted he would often go by himself and stay for hours. He was also a strong swimmer and enjoyed snorkelling.

Kang’s wife said it wasn’t unusual for him to stay out fishing late, and he would occasionally stay overnight and return in the morning.

He didn’t own a lifejacket, so wouldn’t have been wearing one when he disappeared, his wife said.

Gary Learmonth, the Auckland search and rescue coordinator, said the tidal flow and winds were high the day Kang went missing, increasing the danger of rock fishing.

Kang’s body was found on January 10, on Muriwai beach, more than 70 kilometres away from where he had been fishing. Mills found he had died near Bethells Beach and O'Neill Bay due to drowning.

Mills said west coast beaches were popular with rock fishers, but the conditions could turn dangerous quickly with large swells, rips and strong currents. The swells could suddenly wash over rocks with large volumes of water.

According to Surf Lifesaving New Zealand, rock fishing was one of the three highest risk activities during 2019 to 2020, and surf beaches posed the highest risk for beach and coastal drownings.

Between 2015 and 2019, there were 23 reported land-based fisher fatalities. Of those, 84 per cent were male, and fishers of Asian ethnicity were the most frequent victims, at 39 per cent.

A survey run by The West Coast Rock-based Fisher Safety Project found in 2020 only 38 per cent of rock fishers reported were often or always wearing lifejackets.

“I note Mr Kang was not wearing a lifejacket,” Mills said.

“It is apparent there’s a need for continued education and reinforcement of the message that lifejackets save lives when rock fishing.

“Wearing a lifejacket can make the difference between life and death when rock fishing.”

Mills said there was also a need to continue to promote safe rock fishing practices, especially among new migrants of Pasifika and Asian descent.

“I note and commend drowning prevention Auckland's recent appointment of a drowning prevention advisor specifically for the Asian community.”