SENSACIONES
8th February 2009, 08:04
A well-known Blenheim antique-store owner is dead after an afternoon of snorkelling went tragically wrong.Roland Grupp, 70, owner of Grove Road Antiques, went missing off Ward Beach on Marlborough's east coast yesterday.
He entered the water about 3.15pm, but after he failed to return to shore nearly two hours later, his wife, Sanga, who was picnicking on the beach with the couple's 11-year-old son, Arno, raised the alarm.
Police said they were advised at 5pm that a man was missing. By that stage, the weather had deteriorated, with a strong southerly wind whipping up the sea.
A large search party consisting of Ward locals, emergency services and the Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter eventually found Mr Grupp floating on the surface of the water about 100 metres off shore, 1.4 kilometres north of his entry point.
Police said the cause of death was unknown, and the matter had been referred to the coroner.
Mr Grupp's body was recovered about 7.30pm by the helicopter and brought to Ward Beach, where Mrs Grupp was waiting with her son.
The pair kneeled over the body, comforted by helicopter crewmen, police and victim support.
Police said Mr Grupp was found in a 2-metre swell and was winched on board the helicopter, where he was confirmed dead by a paramedic.
Mrs Grupp said conditions on the beach were calm when her husband entered the water, but it became very windy and choppy while he was out there.
About 25 Ward locals searched the beach for Mr Grupp on quad bikes, by foot and from elevated vantage points with binoculars.
Two Ward divers, Warren Thurlow and Chris Davies, also searched for him underwater near his entry point at a rocky section of the northern point of the beach.
Mr Thurlow, a self-employed commercial diver, said that by the time he got into the water the southerly was strong and the water was "murky".
"It was quite challenging. It wasn't very pleasant," he said.
Although the weather changed while Mr Grupp was in the water, it would have happened quite gradually, Mr Thurlow said.
He would not comment on the possible cause of Mr Grupp's death, but said divers should never dive alone and must always be wary of conditions.
The Blenheim police thanked the Ward community for their "phenomenal assistance" in the search.
Mr Grupp's employee, Barbara Galvin, who was with Mrs Grupp this morning, said her boss had lived for his family and antiques.
Mr Grupp began collecting china, bottles and early pieces of stoneware when he was a young boy.
Ms Galvin said he was a keen fisherman in his younger years and he liked the water.
Mr Grupp emigrated from his native Germany 40 years ago via Australia, where he spent nine years, before moving to Blenheim.
He had owned Grove Road Antiques for about nine years.
Last year, the shop was in the headlines after a robber brandished a pistol at Mrs Galvin and demanded money. Nothing was taken in the robbery, but Mrs Galvin was left traumatised.
Before he bought Grove Road Antiques, Mr Grupp owned Village Antiques in Spring Creek for 24 years, and also made pottery in a studio.
He entered the water about 3.15pm, but after he failed to return to shore nearly two hours later, his wife, Sanga, who was picnicking on the beach with the couple's 11-year-old son, Arno, raised the alarm.
Police said they were advised at 5pm that a man was missing. By that stage, the weather had deteriorated, with a strong southerly wind whipping up the sea.
A large search party consisting of Ward locals, emergency services and the Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter eventually found Mr Grupp floating on the surface of the water about 100 metres off shore, 1.4 kilometres north of his entry point.
Police said the cause of death was unknown, and the matter had been referred to the coroner.
Mr Grupp's body was recovered about 7.30pm by the helicopter and brought to Ward Beach, where Mrs Grupp was waiting with her son.
The pair kneeled over the body, comforted by helicopter crewmen, police and victim support.
Police said Mr Grupp was found in a 2-metre swell and was winched on board the helicopter, where he was confirmed dead by a paramedic.
Mrs Grupp said conditions on the beach were calm when her husband entered the water, but it became very windy and choppy while he was out there.
About 25 Ward locals searched the beach for Mr Grupp on quad bikes, by foot and from elevated vantage points with binoculars.
Two Ward divers, Warren Thurlow and Chris Davies, also searched for him underwater near his entry point at a rocky section of the northern point of the beach.
Mr Thurlow, a self-employed commercial diver, said that by the time he got into the water the southerly was strong and the water was "murky".
"It was quite challenging. It wasn't very pleasant," he said.
Although the weather changed while Mr Grupp was in the water, it would have happened quite gradually, Mr Thurlow said.
He would not comment on the possible cause of Mr Grupp's death, but said divers should never dive alone and must always be wary of conditions.
The Blenheim police thanked the Ward community for their "phenomenal assistance" in the search.
Mr Grupp's employee, Barbara Galvin, who was with Mrs Grupp this morning, said her boss had lived for his family and antiques.
Mr Grupp began collecting china, bottles and early pieces of stoneware when he was a young boy.
Ms Galvin said he was a keen fisherman in his younger years and he liked the water.
Mr Grupp emigrated from his native Germany 40 years ago via Australia, where he spent nine years, before moving to Blenheim.
He had owned Grove Road Antiques for about nine years.
Last year, the shop was in the headlines after a robber brandished a pistol at Mrs Galvin and demanded money. Nothing was taken in the robbery, but Mrs Galvin was left traumatised.
Before he bought Grove Road Antiques, Mr Grupp owned Village Antiques in Spring Creek for 24 years, and also made pottery in a studio.