The boys’ ages were 11 and 12, and they were on a school trip to New Zealand. They were swimming in the Rees River, a tributary of Lake Wakatipu, when they got into trouble. The boys were not wearing life jackets.
The witness managed to bring Tama back to the shore, who was conscious and placed in the recovery position until emergency services arrived. Multiple helicopters and boats searched for Kaaho, and he was found during a police dive squad search the next day, at a depth of 24m. Less than a week later, on January 19, Young visited the spot with his fiance, Hsu Lae Tin. He was visiting New Zealand from New South Wales in Australia. The coroner’s report said Young swam out to help a young boy who got into difficulty while playing in Rees River and started drifting out.
This incident highlights the dangers of swimming in rough seas, particularly in areas with strong currents. The boy’s age and lack of swimming experience made him vulnerable to the dangers of the sea. The boy’s parents were not present, leaving him unsupervised.
Duggal’d also said that the incident was not a suicide. The police dive squad found Young’s body the next day at a depth of 15m. This discovery confirmed the initial suspicion that the incident was not a suicide.
* The New Zealand government is taking steps to improve water safety in the country. * The government is focusing on education and awareness campaigns to prevent drowning. * The government is also investing in infrastructure improvements to enhance water safety. * The government is working with Water Safety New Zealand to implement these initiatives.
– RNZ