A dog stayed by the body of a man who drowned in a remote area of Otago. Emergency services were called to Jack’s Bay Bar around 10:40 am on Saturday after reports that two people and a dog fell overboard from a boat trying to cross the Catlins River sandbar. This started a search and rescue mission with Coastguard volunteers from Dunedin and a helicopter.
The body of 55-year-old Gareth Pearson from Milton was found on a nearby beach, with his dog, Mitt, beside him. Mitt had managed to swim to safety in the rough weather. Pearson’s brother-in-law was found on some rocks nearby. They were celebrating the brother-in-law’s 60th birthday when the incident happened.
Ester Johnson, co-owner of Surat Bay Lodge, saw the boat moving slowly in an area known for rough waters and thought it was dangerous. She recognized the dog was often on the boat when they went fishing. After some time, she heard sirens and realized there was an emergency.
Earlier this year, on August 3, three people died when a boat capsized at Riverton Bar in Southland.
