Olson Canatoy and Eric Dabalos were Filipino nationals who lived in Hamilton, New Zealand. Olson and Eric were both keen fishermen who would regularly go fishing together at Papanui Point – they went fishing on 31 October 2021, and never returned. Neither man was wearing a lifejacket.
Coroner Woolley concludes that, with no witnesses, the most likely scenarios are:
- Both slipped from the rocks into the water,
- Both were washed off the rocks by waves, or
- One was swept off and the other attempted a rescue, resulting in both drowning.
Olson’s body was found on rocks in a bay south of Papanui Point on 21 November 2021. To date, Eric’s body has not been located.
This tragic incident highlights that even experienced fishermen, familiar with the area, are at risk from the hazards at Papanui Point. Since 1980, 18 people are known to have drowned at this location, earning it a place on Water Safety New Zealand’s list of New Zealand’s 10 drowning blackspots.
Glen Scanlon, Chief Executive of Water Safety New Zealand, says being familiar with a location can often lead to complacency about safety.
"Unfortunately, this is yet another report we are commenting on relating to the drowning of fishermen at Papanui Point. We cannot overstate the risk of this location and experience is no safeguard against the conditions. Do not fish at Papanui Point - no fish is worth your life."
Water Safety NZ’s focus on drowning blackspots calls for community-driven water safety solutions based on data-led evidence. Report Understanding Drowning Risk at Papanui Point was commissioned and identifies common factors in fatalities:
- The majority of fatalities were male, middle-aged, Hamilton-based, and nearly half were of Asian descent.
- Almost all incidents involved fishing from the rocks.
- Rough sea conditions were present in nearly every case, even in fine weather.
- None of the individuals were wearing lifejackets.
The findings underline that drowning at Papanui Point is not a result of inexperience. Many of those who drowned were confident, experienced fishers who knew the area and were fishing in company. What was missing were essential safety measures: wearing lifejackets, regularly assessing conditions, and planning for emergencies.
Understanding conditions at high-risk locations
Avoiding high-risk locations is a key part of reducing drowning statistics. Water Safety New Zealand is calling for extra care in the summer months ahead.
Glen Scanlon says all New Zealanders need to be cautious at drowning blackspots.
“High-risk locations are known, we publish them, we study them – we are asking New Zealanders to understand the risks and avoid harm.”
The full list of drowning blackspots is:
- TeHenga / Bethells Beach
- Piha (North and South)
- Muriwai Beach
- Manukau Harbour
- Manukau Heads
- Karioitahi Beach
- Papanui Point (west coast of Waikato)
- Waikato River (Hamilton city limits)
- Wellington waterfront
- Mount Maunganui
Notes:
- Drowning blackspots are locations with high rates of drowning incidents and fatalities, similar to high-risk areas on state highways and local roads.
- Locations with the highest drowning incidents, using 25-year fatality data leads to ten blackspot locations.
- In 2024, 18% of the 74 drownings occurred at a drowning blackspot.
