Waikato River Tragedy: Kayne Kohu’s Body Found in Hamilton

Police have confirmed that the body found in the Waikato River on Tuesday is that of the missing Hamilton man, Kayne Kohu.

The 23-year-old promising chef has been missing since Aug. 23, when he was swimming and getting into trouble.

Another friend jumped into the water to help him, but both began to be dragged downstream.

A third friend, a woman who was also on the beach, saw the couple fall asleep and ran down the ramp to try to help them, and called emergency services.

Kohu’s friend managed to swim to the other side and climb an embankment and also called for help.

But sadly, Kohu got lost.

The night Kohu disappeared, the police boat, Waikato Westpac rescue helicopter and fire and emergency drone conducted searches, without success.

The national police diving brigade also joined the search in the days after his disappearance.

Her cousin, Te Hikuwai Kohu, previously told the Herald that she didn’t understand why she was swimming at that time.

“He was really smart and he was a black belt at 11 or 12, he used to do karate as a kid, he was so smart.

“He was quite mature for his age, he didn’t drink, well, I thought he didn’t drink.”

Hearing that he was swimming in the river Sunday night was a shock, he said.

“And he knows that he is not allowed to enter the river.”

He said his cousin should have known as his grandmother, victim advocate and psychotherapist Hinewirangi Kohu-Morgan NZOM, had always told him to stay away from it.

Kohu, originally from the Bay of Plenty, had been working at Camarosa Restaurant on the outskirts of Hamilton, with renowned chef Andrew Clarke.

Kohu had followed in his father’s footsteps and became a chef after initially venturing into the plumbing business.

“He always cooked for us. He taught himself, he didn’t have a qualification or anything he learned from the bottom, how to dishwasher and he made his way,” Te Hikuwai said.

His death has been referred to the coroner.