Dad of two drowns in river on birthday
Max McDonald was the ‘‘best swimmer’’ in the family, but during a birthday dip in a West Coast river, the current proved too strong.
The 57-year-old got into difficulty and disappeared while swimming at the junction of the Buller and Ohikanui rivers, near Westport, on Saturday.
His devastated family will remember him as someone who would do anything for his two children.
Maxwell Verne McDonald was travelling from Westport to Motueka with one of his brothers when they stopped to take photos of the river. He decided to go for a swim, but could not be found after he was caught in the current and police were notified.
The Police National Dive Squad found his body on Monday after an extensive search by Land Search and Rescue volunteers and members of Surf Life Saving New Zealand over the weekend.
Zane McDonald, who was not at the incident, said ‘‘Max’’ was the best swimmer of his siblings, as they used Hokio Beach and nearby rivers while growing up in Levin.
‘‘Of the whole family, I’ve said he’s the best swimmer of the lot of us and we’ve all been swimming since we could walk, almost,’’ Zane McDonald said.
‘‘So it must have been a strong current to get him.’’
Max McDonald lived in Australia for the past 15 or so years. He recently gave up work to travel, including to England and Ireland, his brother said.
‘‘[He] definitely had decided he was going to do a bit of travelling and do something that he wants because life’s too short.’’
Max McDonald leaves behind an adult son and daughter, who live in Australia.
‘‘He would do anything for his kids. There is nothing he wouldn’t do for his kids. If he could do it ... he would,’’ Zane McDonald said.
Zane McDonald laughed when he recalled a story about his ‘‘stubborn’’, but determined, brother changing his car’s brake pads, even if it meant he went the long-way about it.
‘‘If he started something he was determined to do it,’’ he said.
‘‘No-one would have stopped him going for a swim that day, the fact that it was his birthday and he saw the river looking like it obviously did, you wouldn’t have stopped him.’’
The family was ‘‘extremely grateful’’ for the time-consuming effort volunteers and police gave to the search.
Police were ‘‘extremely helpful and supportive’’ to family who raised the alarm.
‘‘We are so glad that they found him, although it then became certain what had actually happened to him because you always like to have hope,’’ Zane McDonald said.
‘‘My understanding is the police did their duty above and beyond.’’
A funeral will be held at Kereru Marae, Koputaroa near Levin on Sunday.