4 Sep 2014

Lifejacket 'would have stopped death'

6:01 pm on 4 September 2014

A fisherman who drowned crossing a West Coast bar last year has been found to have died due to lack of a life jacket as well as cannabis use and poor timing.

Nicholas Bret Eklund drowned last year when the fishing vessel Lady Anna capsized while crossing the Grey River Bar to enter Greymouth harbour.

Coroner David Crerar said Mr Eklund was not wearing a lifejacket when he crossed the bar and this would have ensured his survival.

Mr Crerar said Mr Eklund had taken cannabis within eight to 12 hours of his death and this would have compromised his ability to survive.

He also refereed to evidence that crossing at low tide, as Mr Eklund did, was less than ideal.