Deaths at Lake Taupō: Revelers seen drinking, swimming at night before two bodies are discovered

Revelers were spotted partying in hot pools on the shores of Lake Taupō 12 hours before two bodies were discovered in the water today.

A local who was at the lake last night said that around 7.30pm he walked past two women and a man at the popular Hot Water Beach spot who looked intoxicated.

Police are trying to find out how two people died after their bodies were discovered by a walker submerged in water around 7 a.m.

The man, who did not want to be identified, said one of the women in the group was sitting in a car that remained parked in the same spot by the lake this morning near the crime scene.

He saw one of the women emerge from a pond wrapped in a towel while the man dangled his legs in the hot water.

“I think they were intoxicated at the time,” he said, describing his behavior as loud and drunk.

He did not recognize anyone in the group.

The man, who was taking his family for a swim at a nearby hotel, returned to the same spot an hour later when a bloody moan pierced the air.

“We had finished swimming. We heard the noise, we got in the car and headed towards where it came from. It was a horrible noise,” he said. “By the time we got there, the police were leaving.”

He saw the group continue to party loudly after the police left.

“You could still hear them in the water. They were screaming because they were drunk.

“We saw them paddling a bottle as we drove for the second time.”

When he heard about the double deaths this morning, he was numb.

“I was very sad, very discouraged actually.

“My wife said we should have done more, but what could we do?”

Police remain at the lake while investigations into the deaths continue.

A tent had been erected over a thermally heated rock pool where the bodies were discovered.

Police said they were working to establish the identity of the mystery couple.

A spokesperson said a scene guard would remain at the scene at the edge of the lake while detectives found out how the couple met such a tragic end.

Earlier today, the mayor of Taupō, David Trewavas, said that knowing that two people had lost their lives was a tragedy.

“Waking up to a beautiful crystal clear day, the lake is so pristine, and someone encountering two dead people is very, very unfortunate.

“This is a very, very sad day.”