An Australian tennis coach
whose body was found in the Waikato River after going missing last year
was a "tragic accidental death", a coroner has ruled.
However, the man's parents have raised concerns about the lack of signage along the river where he died.
The mysterious disappearance of Paul Arber, 38, in
December last year sparked a large-scale search in the region which
lasted almost a week.
He was visiting the country with a large group of
children for a tennis tournament and was seen alone by a woman in
Hamilton East on Saturday, December 7. Images were taken of him at an
ATM 15 minutes after the encounter and Mr Arber was last seen at the
edge of the Waikato River around 4am Sunday wearing only a pair of
shorts.
His body was found by a group of rowers from Hamilton Girls' High School.
Coroner Wallace Bain ruled the cause of death to be
drowning and there is "nothing at all to suggest that this is anything
but a tragic accident".
“There are no indications to suggest that Paul was
at any stage thinking about taking his own life and he was otherwise a
fit and healthy young man with no depression or other factors in this
life which would lead him to even consider taking his own life."
During the hearing, Mr Arber's parents raised concerns about the safety of the river.
"Their
concern was that overseas visitors would have no idea [of the dangers]
because the river seems so peaceful and calm but in fact had a strong
undertow," the ruling says.
The Waikato Regional
Council noted the Harbour Master, who oversees the Waikato River
believes that particular part of the river is "no more treacherous than
many other stretches of the Waikato River".
The
Hamilton City Council confirmed the area Mr Arber was found in – known
as Ferry Bank Reserve – had no signs relating to the river and also had
no lighting.
It also believes it is the
individual's responsibility to make sure they can handle the conditions
of the water they're swimming in.
The council
says it will review its signage across its parks and open spaces in the
next 12 months and would take access points to the Waikato River into
consideration to make sure appropriate information is provided.
Mr Bain made no formal recommendations in relation to the death.
3 News
