Alcohol and water recreation is as much a deadly mix as alcohol and driving, Water Safety New Zealand says in the wake of the drowning of a drunk man.
A coroner's report into the death of a 35-year-old Palmerston North beneficiary says he was nearly three times over the alcohol driving limit when he drowned at Himatangi Beach, about 35km west of Palmerston North.
The beneficiary, whose name is suppressed, was caught in a rip and swept about 100m offshore on the afternoon of September 23 last year after having been drinking into the early hours of that morning.
Water Safety New Zealand chief executive Matt Claridge says alcohol is a factor in the drownings of about 17 or 18 people each year.
"That's about 15 per cent of all drownings," he told NZ Newswire.
"New Zealanders shouldn't be consuming alcohol before or during any activities next to the water."
Mr Claridge says these deaths include victims who had alcohol in their system and those whose deaths were caused by someone who had been drinking, such as someone killed through the actions of a drunk boat skipper.
Alcohol also impaired an adult's ability to supervise children by the water, he said.
Palmerston North coroner Tim Scott said the victim was drinking the night before his death and was seen still drinking at 4.30am.
He left for the beach that afternoon with his family and a box of ready-to-drink bourbon and colas, having already consumed one.
They were gathering pipi before the man went for a swim, after which he was swept away.
"I think he effectively gave himself little or no chance of survival by entering the water in his condition," Mr Scott said.
NZN