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The family of a popular school teacher killed when an annual rafting trip turned into a tragedy is busy living “hard, fast and happy” to honor his memory.
Sam Zarifeh, a physical education teacher at Christchurch Boys’ High School, died on a rafting trip on the West Coast Landsborough River in December 2017, taken with other staff members to celebrate the end of the school year.
A coroner’s report on his death found that the 27-year-old drowned after the raft he shared with four others capsized and sank in a gorge in the river near Haast.
Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame said that while she was not seeking to blame anyone, her death was preventable and the group could have better assessed the water conditions.
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Christchurch teacher Sam Zarifeh died after his raft capsized in the Landsborough River on the west coast.
The river was dangerously high at the time, so much so that a commercial rafting group decided not to venture out, and the focus of four rescue kayakers had been to retrieve the raft rather than rescue the rafters, he found.
This led to Zarifeh being exposed to cold water for too long, which likely affected her ability to stay afloat.
It was a double whammy for her family, as her mother Julie and her siblings lost their father Paul to pancreatic cancer 16 days earlier.
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* Christchurch teacher Sam Zarifeh died during a celebratory rafting trip.
Julie said there were no surprises in the report, which she found “reassuring, in a way.”
“I agree with the recommendations, but it is not rocket science. Things could have been done better. However, I am very sorry for the people who were on that trip with Sam. “
Julie said, looking back, it’s hard to believe that three years have passed since her death.
“You’re heartbroken, but we’ve had massive support and we’ve done some really cool things in Sam’s memory.”
The trip was a school tradition dating back 20 years.
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Zarifeh was considered to be very fit, but he was an inexperienced rafter.
Zarifeh, the nephew of Crown Prosecutor Mark Zarifeh, who again led the Christchurch mosque terrorist case, had been working at the school for two years.
On the weekend of December 9, I was among a group of nine of varying levels of experience rafting and kayaking down the Landsborough River. Two others were going to fly the next day.
The group reached a section called Kea Flat by helicopter on December 8, when river levels seemed quite low.
Heavy rains overnight caused the river to become substantially higher, but the group decided to leave after a discussion about safety.
All had helmets and personal flotation devices, and all four kayakers carried shooting bags with ropes to assist the swimmers.
There were five men on the raft, including Zarifeh.
George heard / things
Just two months after losing her husband and son, Julie Zarifeh cycled 450 km through Sri Lanka and raised enough funds to provide 45 children with new bikes through the Variety charity.
After stopping twice in the first few kilometers, a disaster occurred when the raft struck a water source known as a “hole” while the river was flooded, turning it sideways and flipping it over.
The five men were thrown, but they managed to grab ropes around the raft and climb aboard as the raft descended downstream.
A kayaker stopped and tried to prepare a shooting bag, but the raft flew past and disappeared. Another also tried to help in vain.
The raft shot past where the group planned to stop for the day, into an area known as the Roaring Lion Gorge, which contains more serious grade four and five rapids.
JULIE ZARIFEH / Things
Julie Zarifeh with her son Sam and her husband Paul, who died 16 days apart in late 2017.
Two men fell and swam to shore, both safe.
Zarifeh and another man were “holding on to life” when the raft hit another hole, throwing Zarifeh into the rapids.
His partner tried to pull him back, but he too was thrown before he managed to swim to safety.
Zarifeh’s body was later seen on a bench by a helicopter pilot.
The coroner found no defects in the raft or equipment, although an industry expert who testified said it was too heavy and would have made driving difficult.
Andrea Deuchrass / Things
The Landsborough River runs from the Southern Alps to Haast on the west coast.
He suggested that an experienced guide could have stopped the raft capsizing, and professional support kayakers could have helped change the outcome.
But the second expert said he did not know if a professional could have stopped the accident.
He also noted that the group’s focus appeared to be on recovering the raft, rather than prioritizing the rescue of the beams, whom it considered “very likely” to be incapacitated by the cold water.
Cunninghame did not support the view that a professional guide should have come on the trip.
“To make such a criticism would imply that the rivers of this country cannot be explored except through a commercial expedition led by a guide…
“Such requirements would require someone with regulatory oversight and an enforcement and enforcement regime.
“Unexpected challenges can arise outdoors. The important thing is that recreational river users have the right experience so that if mishaps do occur, they can use the best rescue methods available. “
JULIE ZARIFEH / Things
A massive “paddle” for Paul Zarifeh at Sumner Beach was one of the ways Julie Zarifeh commemorated her family.
She recommended that recreational rafters consider taking nationally recognized whitewater safety courses and raft guide training, and also suggested a common sense approach to checking forecasts and conditions, and practicing safety drills before departing.
Julie Zarifeh said that while there are some sad moments, her family is doing well now.
“My other son, Jared, had a baby last year, and he will have it this month. Being a grandmother is very rewarding and has really changed the tone of December for us. “
The family hosts the annual Sumner Village Community Bath in memory of Sam and Paul, and Julie Grief’s book On The Run will be released in March.
The Christchurch Boys’ High School staff also meet each year to remember Zarifeh, but there are no more annual rafting trips.
Iain McGregor / Stuff
Christchurch Boys High School principal Nic Hill says staff still meet every year to remember Zarifeh.
“Sam is fondly remembered by the entire school community. We miss him, ”said director Nic Hill.
“We also continue to think about his family and his closest friends on staff.
“He had an immensely positive attitude and was very family and community oriented. He could be friends with anyone and it was great company. “
A memorial tree has been planted at the Adams House shelter, where Zarifeh lived and worked, and her photo is also on display.
