A Fiji Indian man died after a boat carrying seven people capsized at Auckland’s Manukau Bar on Sunday. The incident, which occurred just before 10am, prompted an immediate response from nearby boaties and emergency services.
New Zealand police confirmed the man who died was 52-year-old Parma Siwam Samy, hailing from Lautoka and known as Vimal of Māngere East.
“Police would like to extend our condolences to his whānau at this difficult time,” read an official statement this morning.
According to the coastguard, several vessels in the area quickly came to the rescue, helping to recover the seven people from the water. Six survivors were treated by ambulance staff for minor injuries.
Coastguard volunteers from Waiuku, Papakura, and Auckland, along with the Coastguard Air Patrol, were involved in the rescue operation. The survivors were brought to Little Huia, where volunteers from Coastguard Waiuku provided first aid and assessed their wellbeing.
Meanwhile, Coastguard Auckland Air Patrol searched the South Channel for the overturned vessel, and Coastguard Papakura checked the front of the bar. However, the boat is believed to have sunk and could not be located.
The Coastguard urged boaties to remain cautious when navigating dangerous areas like the Manukau Bar. "As bars like the Manukau Bar can be unpredictable and dangerous, we encourage all boaties to refresh their knowledge by attending one of our Bar Awareness seminars, held across the country and online," they said.
Despite the dangerous outcome, Coastguard noted that conditions on the bar were good at the time of the incident. Police confirmed that all those on board were wearing lifejackets.
Enquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing and his death will be referred to the Coroner, the New Zealand police added.
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