The Fishing boat Kotuku is brought to the surface at Port William, Stewart Island in 2006.
Fifteen years after fishing trawler Kotuku capsized in Foveaux Strait, widow Judy Hayward will visit the cemetery and gather together with some of those involved in the tragedy, just as she does most years. Hayward’s husband Ian (known as Shorty) was one of nine people aboard the fishing boat when it was hit by a rogue wave on the afternoon of May 13, 2006. Three people survived and swam to nearby Women’s Island but Leslie Christian Topi, known as Peter, his daughter Tania Marie Topi, his two 9-year-old grandsons Shain Jack Topi-Tairi and Sailor Roy Trow-Topi, Ian “Shorty” Hayward and Clinton Allan Woods died.
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However, he had been “all over the place” and not himself prior to his disappearance. A relationship break-up about 18 months previously had split him from his children, his routine had been broken, he missed his three kids and had been depressed, Milnes said. On February 24, he rang the police and they picked him up and took him to the mental health unit, as he had wanted the help, she said. However, about 10.30pm that night he wanted out of the unit, so used a chair to smash a window and go through it, she said. It is unclear why he smashed the window to leave, as the SDHB says the mental health unit is an “open ward and not secure.