Drugs and diving don’t mix

Coroner’s findings into the death of a Gisborne man in November 2025 highlight the risks of alcohol and other drugs around water.

Anyone participating in freediving or scuba diving must be both physically and mentally fit for underwater activities. Water Safety New Zealand is calling for all New Zealand men over 45 to check they are medically fit to dive before heading out.

New Zealand’s drowning statistics demonstrate the need to address risky behaviours, complacency, and the lack of adherence to basic water safety practice. Alcohol and other recreational drugs are often a factor.

A report from Coroner Rachael Schmidt-McCleave (released 22 April 2026) into the death of Benjamin Rangi Murray in November 2025 makes recommendations to reduce the chances of future diving deaths.

Water Safety New Zealand strongly supports the calls for recreational divers to:

• ensure you are medically fit to dive. Seek specific dive medical advice when there are any changes in their health, when you use or change medications, when you reach 45 years of age, and seek medical advice for your fitness to dive at least every five years
• refrain from using alcohol and/or recreational drugs before undertaking any diving activity.

Based on expert pathology advice, Coroner Schmidt-McCleave found the cause of Mr Murray’s death at Kaiti, Gisborne, was methamphetamine intoxication.

The findings report: “I do consider Mr Murray’s death was preventable had he not entered the water to free dive while under the influence of methamphetamine.

“Diving is a physically and mentally demanding activity that requires focus, quick reactions and good decision-making. The use of alcohol and/or recreational drugs significantly impairs these abilities and greatly increases the risks associated with diving.”

Rob Hewitt, Kaihautū Māori of Water Safety New Zealand, describes 58-year-old Benjamin Murray’s death as a preventable tragedy.

"My heart goes out to the whānau and everyone who loved this man. Using recreational drugs may be a common choice for many New Zealanders. For those who drink alcohol or use other drugs, it is critical to understand the effects must be factored in when you’re in and around the water – even if it was many days or hours before you head out.

“The fact is, Māori men, Pasifika men, men of all shapes and sizes – when we get to a certain age, we can be overconfident about our ability in the water. It is critical to understand our individual fitness, know our limits, and understand how alcohol and other drugs can affect your body.”

Learn more about how to stay safe: watersafetynz.org/staying-safe

Notes:

• A total of 82 people drowned in an underwater activity in the past ten years (2016-2025).
• More than half of those people were Māori men – 42 people.
• Scuba diving accounts for 23 of underwater deaths and 42 were freediving deaths.
• Alcohol or other drugs are a recorded factor in 34 of the 82 underwater drowning deaths in the past ten years.

About Water Safety New Zealand

Water Safety New Zealand is the lead agent for water safety and drowning prevention in New Zealand. For more than 75 years, we’ve made it our mission to support people and places to be safer around water.

We do this through focused data science, leadership, education, and advocacy. As a charity, we are dedicated to making New Zealand’s waterways safer for everyone.

Find out more: www.watersafetynz.org

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