A coroner has found that a man who drowned in the Maruia Falls, near Nelson, ignored Department of Conservation safety barriers.
The coroner heard that Ian Randall was travelling to Nelson with friends for a Rugby World Cup game when they decided to stop for a closer look at the falls.
Mr Randall ran to the falls and slipped but initially a rock stopped him falling further.
A colleague held his arm but the force of the water dragged him down the 11m falls.
A post mortem has found Mr Randall drowned, but also suffered serious head injuries.
The coroner did not find any fault with the Department of Conservation, which had erected safety barriers and warning signs.
