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December 20, 2022
Drowning death toll will cast pall over Christmas
Gideon Porter
Posted On December 20, 2022
Download AudioA stunning prediction for the festive season.
Before New Year’s Eve 12 whanau Māori will be grieving for a loved one who will die in the water, probably while diving for kaimoana.
Water safety advocate and former navy diver Rob Hewitt says the most likely to die are men between the ages of 45 to 65… who may not have dived since last summer.
He says it’s more often than not caused by over-confidence, and a lack of proper respect for Tangaroa.
“What we’re trying to say is hey look, make sure you are fit for purpose, don’t be that guy who doesn’t come home, because last year we had 90 New Zealanders drown… and that’s 90 whanau. And out of that 90 at least 40 percent were Maori,” Mr Hewitt says.
Water Safety New Zealand’s “Don’t Be That Guy” Christmas campaign urges men to take a moment to think – and for their friends to have their backs.
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