Whitebaiter's family accept he won't return | Stuff.co.nz

MISSING MAN: Victor Boraman, 21, who was washed out to sea on Sunday at the Rakaia River mouth.

STACY SQUIRES/Fairfax NZ

SHORE SEARCH: Paul McFall of the Rakaia Search and Rescue searches the coastline for Victor Boraman.

The family of a Rakaia man swept out to sea while whitebaiting know he's not coming home but they just want his body back.

Victor Boraman, 21, fought for his life after being knocked into the Rakaia River on Sunday night.

Last night, rescue services were still searching for Boraman as his family gathered at their Oamaru home anxiously waiting for news.

His mother, Dixie Boraman, told The Press that her son was at the river with two friends when his new border collie puppy, Suze, ran into the water.

Boraman stayed on the shore while his friends went out to grab the dog.

When his friends turned around, Boraman had been knocked into the river by a large wave.

Dixie said her son "kept calm" in the water while waiting for rescue.

"He took off his clothes so they didn't weigh him down and waited. He was such a strong fellow, he stayed alive much longer than anyone expected. It was just such rough weather."

Westpac rescue helicopter crewmen managed to locate Boraman but he was sucked under by a wave before they could rescue him.

Dixie said the family were "staying strong", but knew their loved one was dead.

"We've accepted he's not coming home. Now it's just down to whether we get his body back or not.

"It's very tough. It's going to take some time to come to terms with, but everyone has been so supportive," Dixie said.

Boraman was not wearing a lifejacket.

"It's one of those things you tell kids but they don't listen," Dixie said.

"It really does make that message hit home that you need to wear a lifejacket even if you're just standing on the shore."

She said she "felt" for the rescuers who had been unable to get to her son.

"It's tough on them too - getting so close but not being able to save him.

Boraman had been working on a dairy farm in Rakaia. He rang his mother on Saturday night to say he had some time off and was going to go whitebaiting with friends. "It was something new for him, it wasn't a hobby or anything, " Dixie said.

She described her son as "a bit of a caveman".

"He loved fishing, hunting, animals, getting outdoors. He was a real man's man but also a very kind person. He was very unique and had a big group of friends," Dixie said.

- ? Fairfax NZ News

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Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/7785612/Whitebaiters-family-accept-he-won-t-return

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