Marlborough’s harbourmaster has vowed to do more to make marinas safer following the death of 6-year-old Nekko Haworth in Havelock Marina.
The harbourmaster’s office and Port Marlborough have partnered to work out how to make marinas and water activities safer, but say there will always be “inherent risks” of being on the water.
Harbourmaster Luke Grogan, who has a 6-year-old son of his own, said he felt impelled to act, from both a personal and professional position.
Flowers and a T-shirt on Pier G in Havelock Marina following the death of 6-year-old Nekko Haworth.
“What can I do to be able to say, hand on heart, I’ve done enough in my role as harbourmaster to prevent this kind of tragedy from happening again?”
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Nekko was reported missing on October 8 from the boat he was staying on with his step-father Nathan Campbell.
Marlborough harbourmaster Luke Grogan says there is “definitely more” they can do to highlight the risks of being on water.
The pair were on a “boys’ trip” to Havelock during the school holidays. After a seven-hour search, his body was recovered from the water at Pier G by police divers that afternoon.
Grogan said there was “definitely more” the harbourmaster’s office could do to highlight the risks of being on the water.
“It’s certainly made me think, both personally but also in my professional capacity as harbourmaster, about the concept of safety in marinas, and more broadly, on vessels when they’re at anchor.”
BRADEN FASTIER/STUFF
Friends and family release balloons at the funeral of 6-year-old Nekko Paul Haworth as hundreds attend his funeral in Nelson.
It was easy to underestimate or “relax” about the risks of being on water, at the beginning or end of a voyage, when the boat was at a marina or mooring, he said.
“I think there’s always going to be a risk in being around boats.”
They were looking into ideas such as education campaigns, signage, technology, life rings and ladder access.
Stuff
Nekko Haworth, 6, died on Tuesday morning after spending the night on a boat in Havelock Marina.
“There will be more we can do, the next step is to identify what that is and find ways to put it in place.”
Port Marlborough chief executive Rhys Welbourn said it was conducting internal investigations following the death, looking at the risks associated with being in the marina.
They had investigated to ensure there were no “infrastructure deficiencies” at Pier G of the marina, such as checking the jetty lights were working and decking was in good order.
RICKY WILSON/STUFF
Port Marlborough chief executive Rhys Welbourn says they are conducting internal investigations following the tragic death.
Welbourn said it would partner with the harbourmaster’s office to get targeted, positive safety messages out to the boating community in the Marlborough Sounds and their marinas.
“Any activity near the water is inherently dangerous. We’re constantly reviewing the risks of those activities and we’re making the marinas as safe as we can.”
They planned to make children’s life jackets available for loan from the Havelock, Picton and Waikawa Marina offices.
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Nekko Haworth, 6, with mum Gemma Astwood and step-father Nathan Campbell.
Water Safety New Zealand reported last week six children under 5 had died in preventable drowning incidents and three aged 5 to 14 so far this year.
Water Safety NZ chief executive Jonty Mills said Nekko’s death was a “heart-breaking situation”.
“Any amount of water presents a risk to a child, particularly for toddlers, and whilst constant active adult supervision is the only solution, we all know how easily and quickly a toddler or young child can move out of sight of their parent or caregiver.”
In 2018, three children aged under 5 drowned in preventable incidents; one in a pond, one in a drain and another in a home pool.
In 2017, there were seven preventable fatalities involving under-5s; five in home pools and two in ponds.
Senior Sergeant Peter Payne said last week the case was with the coroner. A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said the average length from time of death to coronial inquiries being published in 2018 was 345 days.
Safety tips from Water Safety New Zealand:
Toddlers and young children can be adventurous. When children and toddlers are sleeping on boats, hatches should be locked and secure. When boating they need to be wearing a correctly fitted lifejacket with a crotch strap.
When camping near waterways at night, tents need to be zipped up to the top and secured if possible.
Fences, gates and latches on swimming pools need to be checked regularly that they are working properly. Doors and windows at holiday homes near water need to be checked and secured and properties checked for access routes and water hazards such as drains and creeks. Paddling pools must be emptied when not in use.
Also talk to your toddlers and young children about water safety such as ‘never go near the water unless you are with an adult’ as soon as they are old enough to understand.
Resources for safer boating tips:
maritimenz.govt.nz
watersafety.org.nz
nzunderwater.org.nz