The Korean man who drowned when he was swept from rocks while fishing at Cape Saunders on Monday was doing one of the things he loved most.
Seung Hwan Seol (50) was with family and friends preparing to fish off the rocks on Monday morning, when he was caught unawares by a large wave and swept into the sea.
He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.
His son, Jay Seol, said his father was a floor tiler from Seoul, South Korea.
He emigrated to Dunedin in 2006.
Jay said his father was a diligent man and "his No 1 priority in life was to look after the family".
"He was a loving father. He loved his family.
"My family are struggling to cope with the loss of Dad."
He said Mr Seol enjoyed recreational fishing and "he was doing something he loved when he died".
Mr Seol was also an active member of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Dunedin and spent much of his free time serving the church and its community.
A member of the Dunedin Korean Society, who declined to be named, said many people described Mr Seol as a generous man.
"He was a very good person. If someone asked him for help, every time he would say yes."
He said family would be travelling from Korea to be with Mr Seol's family in Dunedin.
In the meantime, in line with Korean custom, members of the Dunedin Korean Society would visit the family and pray for them during the next three to five days, he said.
