Fisherman dies in Otago Lake
Coastguard Clyde were called by Police to assist in the search for Otago fisherman, Kevin Croad of Gore, on Sunday 1st November after Mr Croad went missing in Lake Onslow.
Croad was fishing on Lake Onslow, 37km east of Roxburgh, with another adult when he entered the water to untangle fishing lines caught in the boat’s propellers, about 2pm Saturday.
The boat drifted away in the wind and by the time the other person was able to restart the motors Croad had vanished, according to Police.
Coastguard Clyde searched the Lake but were only able to locate a paddle from the boat. They assisted the Wellington based police dive squad who recovered his body that afternoon, shortly after they started searching.
Divers found him about four metres deep in the lake near where he was last seen, Detective Sergeant Derek Shaw said. “Although the death of Mr Croad is a tragedy it is of some comfort to his family and friends that he could be recovered from the lake in such a timely manner.”
“It’s a tribute to all the searchers involved that this result could be achieved.”
The death of Croad, who was not wearing a life jacket, had been referred to the coroner.
