Lifejacket may have saved fly fisherman
A coroner says a specialised lifejacket could have saved the life of a fly fisher who died near Lake Wanaka.
Kenneth Copland died on August 4, 2013 at the mouth of the Makarora River and headwaters of Lake Wanaka after losing his footing while fly fishing alone.
Mr Copland, who held numerous community positions in the Wanaka area, could not swim but was an experienced fly fisher.
Coroner Richard McElrea says Mr Copland probably lost his footing and was unable to save himself in a strong current and cold water conditions and died of drowning with hypothermia.
He wasn't wearing a lifejacket and didn't have a personal locator beacon with him.
"Had he been wearing a lifejacket/personal flotation device ... and had he carried a personal locator beacon or equivalent device, activated at an early stage, his chances of survival would have been increased, but by no means assured."
Senior Constable Michael Johnston told the inquest a standard lifejacket would have been cumbersome and not practical for fly fishing, but a blow-up gas-operated vest could have been helpful.
He said a waterproof, easy to activate personal locator beacon could have helped, though some are difficult to access and operate for someone in trouble that was trying to keep their head above water.
If Mr Copland had operated a beacon once he got in trouble, the quickest emergency services could have got to him was 45 minutes, Snr Const Johnston said.
Mr McElrea recommended fishing organisations should emphasise the benefits of wearing lifejackets and having waterproof communication tools like a locator beacon when fly fishing.
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