Kayaker Simeon McNeill died trying to save cousin
The kayaker whose body was found on New Year’s Day has been identified as 25-year-old Cranebrook man Simeon McNeill.
Central Coast
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A man who died after his kayak flipped on Budgewoi Lake on New Year’s Eve was trying to rescue his younger cousin, his family have revealed.
Simeon McNeill, 25, of Cranebrook near Penrith, set out with his cousin and another friend at 7.45pm on Tuesday when a strong southerly hit and the conditions deteriorated.
His cousin and friend were rescued 500m south of Buff Point after they were unable to return to shore.
Mr McNeill, who was on holidays for New Year’s Eve, disappeared.
Tuggerah Lakes Police, Marine Area Command, Marine Rescue, Roads and Maritime Services and Polair tragically found the young man’s body in the water off Budgewoi just before 11am on Wednesday.
A family member said the trio were hit with a sudden gust of wind, which separated Mr McNeill’s youngest cousin.
“He desperately tried to make his way over to help when his kayak flipped and dragged him under water, the strong current and wind was too hard to fight,” she posted on a GoFundMe page launched to help cover his funeral costs.
“Simeon passed away trying to save the life of somebody else which sadly cost him his own,” she wrote.
“Simeon was a happy fun and loving human being who clearly put others before himself, he was always the life of the party and made everyone around him happy.”
It is understood he was not wearing a life jacket.
Bureau of Meteorology data for the Gosford weather station shows winds gusting 15km/h changed from north-north-easterly to gusts of 50km/h from the south west around the time of the incident.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.