8 Oct 2025

Cyclone Gabrielle inquest: 'Sorry we weren't able to get to your loved ones in time'

6:53 pm on 8 October 2025
An NH90 helicopter and crew recover people from the rooftops of their homes in Esk Valley, Napier.

An NH90 helicopter and crew recover people from the rooftops of their homes in Esk Valley, Napier. Photo: Supplied / NZDF

In a heartfelt and emotional moment in court, a Hawke's Bay fire-fighter has apologised to victims' families for failing to rescue their loved ones in time during Cyclone Gabrielle.

Glen Varcoe is the Hawke's Bay District Commander for FENZ and was the response coordinator during the Cyclone. He is giving evidence at the coroner's inquest into the deaths of 19 people as a result of Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary Floods.

Thirteen of the deaths were in Hawke's Bay - people who died from various causes including drowning, landslides, hypothermia and a lack of oxygen.

The fire-fighter was in tears as he apologised to all the families on behalf of himself and his local crews who tried to rescue people, but could not reach them.

"I just want to say sorry we weren't able to get to your loved ones in time and help.

"That feeling of hopelessness, that we could have done and should have done more has had an impact on us all... but it can't have as much an impact as it continues to have on those families," said Varcoe.

The aftermath of massive flooding that swept through the Esk Valley during Cyclone Gabrielle. The river's normal path can be seen running down the right of the valley.

The aftermath of massive flooding that swept through the Esk Valley during Cyclone Gabrielle. Photo: RNZ/ Sally Murphy

The court saw emails between FENZ and a council hydrologist, about the Esk River reaching its highest ever recorded level at about 2am on 14 February, at which point no evacuation orders had been made.

Another email, just minutes later, discussed the potential to declare an emergency in Esk Valley, so that an EMA (Emergency Mobile Alert) could be sent to residents to get them out of harm's way.

But that alert was not issued by Civil Defence until hours later, at 5:19am, by which time two people had already drowned in the area - two-year-old Ivy Collins and Susane Caccioppoli.

Varcoe told the court how at about 3am on 14 February, two firefighters and two defence force staff tried to evacuate people in Esk Vally in an army unimog.

However, when they tried to drive up SH5, floodwaters were washing over the bonnet of the vehicle.

"It was considered too dangerous for them to try and go further," he said.

Varcoe was questioned by the coroner's lawyer Nick Whittington, about the delay from Hawke's Bay Civil Defence in declaring an emergency, after intel at 2:31am revealed the Esk River had reached record levels and was still rising.

"Why.... does it then take until 4:04am, another 75 minutes, before there is a declaration made?," asked Whittington.

"I have no knowledge of that... it's best answered by Mr Botherway," said Varcoe.

When the Esk River burst its banks, floodwaters filled the entire valley

As dawn broke on 14 February, it revealed floodwaters filled with cars and debris filled the entire Esk Valley. Photo: Supplied

Varcoe explained that throughout the night of 13 and 14 February, they were receiving numerous reports of people trapped in floodwaters or slips, but much of the region's road access was cut off by deep flooding, landslides and washed out bridges.

He said Fire and Emergency did not have the ability to safely deploy helicopters or boats at night.

"It was a terrible situation that we couldn't get to that area before daylight," said Varcoe.

Adding that there was a huge backlog of 111 calls from people needing rescuing, with more dispatch requests than they could respond to.

"We could see the huge emotional toll it was taking on our local brigades.. they felt hopeless not being able to get to members of the community who needed help. It really impacted them," said Varcoe.

The Hawke's Bay fire-fighter became emotional as he acknowledged everyone who lost loved ones during the cyclone.

"I want to give our sincerest apologies and sympathy for your losses and apologise again for not being able to do more.

"I know nothing we can say or do can change that, but I hope the evidence we provides helps in a little way."

Ivy Collins' parents want to see more action and a sense of urgency from Civil Defence and Hawke's Bay Regional Council.

Two-year-old old Ivy Collins drowned in Eskdale as her family tried to escape the rising floodwaters in the early hours of 14 February. Photo: Supplied

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