The death of Jeremy Norbury, 24, in a kayaking accident in Queenstown, New Zealand, has been officially confirmed by Coroner Amelia Steel. The incident, which occurred on 25 February 2023, resulted in the tragic loss of life, leaving his friends and family to mourn his passing.
The Incident
The kayaking group, comprising of Norbury and his friends, set off early that morning, eager to take on the challenges of the Turnbull River. They carried their kayaks for about an hour before reaching the river, where they began paddling one after the other. Norbury, being the last to start paddling, found himself in a precarious situation. • The group cleared the first rapid and the first four members of the group cleared the next, grade 4, rapid. • They waited in calm water, where they witnessed Norbury become stuck in a pocket, a “very aggressive recirculating hole – like a washing machine”. The group, aware of the risks involved, had been properly equipped and prepared for the challenge. However, despite their experience, Norbury was unable to escape the hole, and his friends were left to rescue him.
The Rescue Efforts
As Norbury struggled to regain control of his kayak, his friends quickly jumped into action. They exited their kayaks and swam to his aid, determined to save their friend. Although Norbury eventually managed to release himself from his kayak skirt and separate from his kayak, he then disappeared. His friends, fearing for his safety, spent about 20 minutes searching for him in the location where he was last seen. • The group activated a personal location beacon, in an attempt to locate Norbury’s position. • They also conducted a thorough search downstream, but were unable to find him. It was not until they stumbled upon him stuck in a “sieve” – a river feature in which water flows between two obstructions – about a metre underwater that they realized the severity of the situation. Unfortunately, they were unable to dislodge his body, and it was left to fate to recover him.
The Investigation and Findings
Coroner Amelia Steel conducted an investigation into the incident, and her findings have been released. In her report, Steel stated that Norbury was a skilled and experienced kayaker, who routinely kayaked up to three times a week. • He had kayaked the Turnbull River about four times before, and his companions also had recent experience on the river. • The group was well-prepared and properly equipped, but Norbury’s death was ultimately due to his inability to escape the “washing machine” hole. Steel’s report also highlighted the importance of being aware of one’s surroundings and taking necessary precautions when engaging in high-risk activities. “Jeremy unfortunately became stuck in a hole in a grade 4 rapid that he could not escape. He had no choice but to release his skirt… he would have been submerged underneath his kayak and likely drowned at that point if he had not.”
Norbury’s body was recovered by a specialist water rescue team the next day.
The Legacy of Jeremy Norbury
Jeremy Norbury’s tragic death serves as a reminder of the importance of being aware of one’s surroundings and taking necessary precautions when engaging in high-risk activities. His experience and skill did not ultimately save him, highlighting the need for caution and vigilance. • Norbury’s friends and family will likely never forget the lessons they learned from their friend’s tragic passing. • His legacy will live on, serving as a reminder to always be aware of the risks involved and to take necessary precautions to stay safe. Read the original article
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