Signs urged at river mouth
The family members of two people who lost their lives on a stretch of South Canterbury coastline are urging authorities to take action before another family is left grieving.
Last week it was confirmed the remains of Lionati Fotofili, who went missing at the site in December 2022, had been found by fishermen on a vessel trawling near the Ashburton/ Rakaia area.
John Coughlan, of Christchurch, said the discovery had brought memories flooding back for him. The circumstances were almost identical to that of his sister, Betty Coughlan, who drowned at the mouth in 1983 aged 29, he said. “She was learning to fish and was going to meet someone there,’’ Coughlan said. “Everything in the story I read about the pastor was a reflection of what happened to Betty.’’
Her remains were found a month later. In both cases, the family and friends searched for their missing loved ones for weeks after they disappeared.
Items of the pastor’s clothing and his dinghy were discovered after his disappearance, while Betty’s fishing bag was located between the high and low water marks several hours later.
Coughlan was now calling for signs to be put up at the mouth, warning people of the dangers of fishing in the area.
This was backed up by the Fotofili family, who did not want others to go through the grief they had endured over the past year.
Family spokesperson Anna Leger said if signs helped to warn others, and meant people came home from the mouth, they happily supported the idea. “Hand on heart we don’t want any other family to go through the experience we’ve been through,’’ Leger said. “There are signs there showing the size of pāua you can catch, but not of the dangers.’’
She said the family wanted Fotofili’s memory to live on, and through the love and aroha of the community, “we know he will always be remembered’’.
Water Safety New Zealand data shows there have been five fatalities within five kilometres of the mouth since 1988. It said it was the responsibility of the council to erect warning signs at the site, if it chose to.
The Timaru District Council’s communications and community engagement manager Stephen Doran said, in general, it did not have safety signage in coastal areas or at river mouths. “Unless they are within a council park or reserve, or there is a identified and acute health risk in the area,’’ he said.
Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Daniel Gerrard said it provided an advisor function to several councils, along with Surf Live Saving New Zealand and others.
While he did not know the specific details of the Ōpihi River mouth, he said fishing in such areas posed significant dangers for fishers, because of their “unique’’ and often unpredictable conditions.
“River mouths, where fresh water meets the sea, are characterised by strong and variable currents, which can rapidly change due to tides, river flow, and weather conditions.’’
The areas were also prone to sudden changes in weather, making them hazardous for those unfamiliar with local conditions, he said.
“Additionally, the confluence of different water bodies can create slippery or unstable surfaces on rocks and banks, increasing the risk of slips and falls. “The mixing waters can also lead to deceptive water depths and hidden obstacles, posing a risk of entanglement for those netting or fishing from boats.’’
He said, given these challenges, fishers and netters at river mouths, such as Ōpihi River mouth, must exercise heightened caution.
“Wearing appropriate safety gear (especially a life jacket), knowing the local weather and water conditions before you leave home and notifying somebody about your trip plans, are all simple steps we can take to make sure we come home after a successful fishing mission.’’
According to Water Safety NZ’s 2023 drowning report, three people, two males and one female, drowned in the Canterbury region in 2023, down 55% on the 10-year average of 6.7.