Lions say they will reinstall a lifebuoy which might have saved a local man from drowning on Saturday at the Hokitika River mouth, but are awaiting a clear instruction from the Westland District Council.

Questions were being asked today about the whereabouts of the lifebuoy, which until 10 days ago was mounted just metres from where Hokitika man Kerry Apperley drowned after his small boat capsized in the swell on Saturday afternoon.

Mr Apperley's son Aiden Mahuika-Apperley, who was with his father at the time and narrowly made it to shore, said the tragedy occurred right in front of where the emergency ring had been hung, and he believed it "definitely would have" helped him save his father.

The lifebouy was maintained by Lions for over a decade, but was taken down late last month when the council dismantled the viewing tower it was mounted on, due to public safety concerns with severe erosion of the Hokitika spit.

Mr Apperley, 48, drowned after he was tipped out of his boat in the swell on the river bar about 1pm.

Aiden, 18, held on to his father but eventually had to let go.

Mr Apperley and his son Aiden were both wearing life jackets and wetsuits.

The drama unfolded right where the river exits past the point in a treacherous gut, just below the old viewing platform.

The public road to the area is blocked by gates erected by the Westland District Council last month about 250m from the river mouth.

The council removed the Rotary viewing platform on August 25-26, and the lifebuoy went then, too.

Hokitika Lions spokeswoman Anna Dyzel said the lifebuoy was a community service by Lions until they removed it, in conjunction with the viewing point demolition, due to its instability.

"The recent high tides with waves crashing over the lookout, placed the lifebuoy in danger of being lost," Dr Dyzell told the Greymouth Star today.

"Once a final instruction is received, Lions will reinstall it."

Dr Dyzel said people should avoid the area, noting the lifebuoy "is of extremely limited use in the current high seas".

Westland District Council chief executive Tanya Winter said they were in discussions with Lions about reinstating the ring, but it would not be where it was previously located due to incursion from the sea.

"It's just an unfortunate coincidence that that was taken down at a similar time that this tragedy has happened."

The council extended its sincere sympathy to the family of Mr Apperley, Ms Winter said.

Police, ambulance and Coastguard services were called to the Hokitika spit on Saturday.

Hokitika marine search and rescue spokesman Max Dowell said he was at the river mouth about two hours before the mishap and he saw Mr Apperley and his son in their boat making their way down the south channel near the mouth and then back up the north channel.

Mr Dowell said the Hokitika beach and river mouth was now virtually inaccessible to launch a rescue boat. Pleas to the council to reinstate yellow 'no parking' lines at the Gibson Quay boat ramp had "fallen on deaf ears," a problem now worsened by the whitebait season.

"The beach also has basically been blocked all the way along for the surf rescue to launch."

The Hokitika marine search and rescue team was not called on Saturday and he said that reflected the loss of local knowledge through the police restructure. Greymouth Coastguard was called instead, but then stood down.

"In situations like that we've used whatever resources we can especially in a matter of life or death.

"A lot of things have fallen by the wayside. There's obviously going to be a lot more lives lost," Mr Dowell said.

It was also unclear on Saturday initially how to unlock the gate leading to the spit, with police having to run from the barrier to the scene of the drowning, Mr Dowell said.

Sergeant Paul Watson, of Greymouth police, said the Greymouth Coastguard was called as the first emergency response but was quickly turned back as they were not needed.