‘I’ve lost my best friend’
Dead swimmer’s heartbroken wife:
The heartbroken widow of a man who died while out swimming, likely after being struck by a boat near a popular North Shore beach, describes him as “my best friend” and the “best father” to the couple’s young sons.
Leslie Gelberger was reported missing after failing to return from a swim at Narrow Neck Beach on Thursday.
His body, missing a leg, was discovered on Friday by a passing commuter ferry. Police are investigating whether Gelberger — from Canada and a teacher at Westlake Girls High School — was struck by a Ports of Auckland pilot boat while swimming.
Gelberger’s devastated wife, Laura McLeod, last night told the Herald on Sunday her husband was “the world” to the couple’s sons, 7 and 5.
“They are absolutely devastated and struggling to come to terms with what has happened,” McLeod said.
“I have lost my best friend, the best father to my boys and the most amazing, kindest, positive and adventurous person I have ever known.
“I didn’t believe that Hollywood romance was real until I met him. He was the yin to my yang and I really don’t know how we are going to cope without him.”
She said her husband was “the epitome of kindness and unrelentingly positivity”.
Safety played a big part in anything that he was involved in.
“For every sport or adventure he dove into, he researched and tried to make it as safe as possible. He even made the kids wear safety glasses while we set off fireworks on Guy Fawkes.”
The family was being supported by friends and other loved ones, including some who have set up a Givealittle fundraising page.
The couple moved here from Canada about three years ago and were in the process of making New Zealand their permanent home when tragedy struck.
“We fell in love with the land and its amazingly friendly people,” McLeod said.
“The outdoor lifestyle suited him to a T. If he wasn’t in the ocean he was in the bush hiking with his boys in tow.”
The Givealittle fundraiser states Gelberger died “while out enjoying his favourite pastime, swimming”.
McLeod said along with family and the Kiwi outdoors, swimming was very much a “passion” for her husband.
“He was a strong swimmer and an enthusiastic if not particularly proficient surfer,” she said.
“He loved having the ocean in his backyard.”
Colleagues at Westlake Girls High School and friends paid tribute to the much-loved father of two last night.
School board chair Joy Bradfield said Gelberger had taught maths and science since the start of the year and the school community was “shocked and saddened” by the news of his death.
“In his brief time at the school he has built up a reputation as an excellent teacher and was greatly respected by staff and students.”
A friend who paid tribute to Gelberger on Facebook remembered him as “incredibly intelligent, a great conversationalist and very sporty”.
His death was a “heartbreaking loss”, the friend wrote.
“Laura and the boys need financial support during this trying time as Leslie’s teaching job was their only source of income,” the Givealittle page states.
Meanwhile, Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson yesterday confirmed one of its pilot boats was under investigation in relation to the death of a swimmer.
Gibson said Ports of Auckland was co-operating with police to help them determine what happened.
“I am extremely upset that one of our pilot boats may have been involved in the death of a swimmer. I offer the family and friends of the swimmer my deepest sympathies for their tragic loss,” he said.