Man died in Auckland creek two hours after police failed to respond to 111 call

A man who died in a stream might have been saved if police took a concerned caller seriously, RNZ reports. Scott Tamarakei Matthews, 36, drowned last year in Meola Creek at Westmere, Auckland, after a drug relapse. On the morning of his death, Matthews was spotted by a member of the public, breaking branches and yelling. The police were called at 5.36am – but no action was taken. Earlier intervention and follow-up by Corrections may have also helped to avoid the drug-taking which led to Matthews’ death, Coroner Tania Tetitaha said.