'Fatal mistake': Safety warnings issued after tragic rafting death

(Warning: This story discusses a fatal accident and may be upsetting for some readers.)

Water Safety NZ is issuing an urgent plea for Kiwis to ditch their "complacency" around the water, following the release of a coroner’s report into a tragic drowning in Hawke’s Bay.

Napier man Alex Scarrow died in December 2023 while rafting with friends on the Mohaka River. According to the findings released by Coroner Thomas today, Scarrow’s raft capsized at the Te Hoe drop, leading to him becoming entangled in a rope.

The report highlighted a "common gap in decision-making" that led to the tragedy. Despite the group’s experience, there was no record of a formal discussion or plan on how to navigate the drop or avoid a notorious rock in the river.

Gavin Walker, General Manager at Water Safety New Zealand, said these types of tragedies often occur when the focus is purely on "fun" rather than the risks.

"Drownings often occur where people either underestimate the conditions and hazards that they're going into, or overestimate their own ability to get out of those situations without a good plan," Walker said.

He explained that while entanglements like the one that claimed Scarrow's life are not common in New Zealand, the underlying cause—lack of preparation—is a recurring theme in national drowning statistics.

"Think about the things, regardless of what you’re doing in and around water, think about the things that could go wrong," Walker said. "Figure out what you need to take with you to get yourself out of trouble. Make good preparations and make good decisions that prioritise your safe return home to your whānau."

"Complacency and making assumptions around water can be a fatal mistake."

The coroner’s report has prompted a recommendation for a new Recreational Rafting Safety Code. Walker supported the move but noted that safety messages only work if people listen. He urged Kiwis to change their habits and take safety seriously to ensure they actually make it home.