Lewis Gerrard Robertson's remains were found on Amberley and Leithfield (pictured) beaches on 6 January 2022 (file picture). Photo: Find a Beach
Warning - This story discusses suicide.
A man whose skeletal remains were found washed up across two north Canterbury beaches is believed to have been on a drug-fuelled bender in the 24 hours before his death.
The remains of 37-year-old Lewis Gerrard Robertson were found washed up across Amberley and Leithfield beaches on 6 January 2022.
The discovery came nearly a fortnight after the Napier man burgled a Warehouse store in Richmond, near Nelson, where he took $50,000 in cash.
Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame released findings into Robertson's death on Thursday, with a definite cause still unexplained.
The inquiry showed Robertson had struggled with methamphetamine use and spoke of suicide to loved ones.
Clues first emerged on Boxing Day 2021 when beachgoers came across $10,000 cash on Amberley Beach.
Cash was also found blowing around several kilometres further south at the neighbouring Leithfield Beach.
In 2016, Robertson met German woman Rebecca Merle.
They married and had a daughter a year later.
Merle was deported to Germany days after the baby was born.
"Lewis desperately wanted to move to Germany to be with them but could not afford to do so," the report said.
Merle told police her husband turned to burglary to raise money, resulting in him being sentenced to imprisonment for about 18 months in September 2019.
"This was not Lewis' first time in prison."
She said Robertson would constantly talk about taking his life when "things were not going his way, if he did not have any money, or was otherwise struggling".
In these phases he would turn to drugs.
By late-2021, Robertson was telling people he had cancer and that he was being pursued by gang members who were going to kill him.
Robertson told his father during a visit that he was planning to travel to Dunedin where he had friends.
His father, who described his son as "frazzled and tired" bought him a bus ticket to Wellington and a flight from there to Dunedin on 15 December.
Once in Wellington, Robertson alerted his father that he could not board the flight because he did not have photo ID.
On 17 December, he was invited to stay with his cousin and partner in Nelson.
His cousin told police that on 23 December, Robertson was acting out-of-character "going on about being chased and shooting at the pigs".
The Warehouse in Richmond was burgled in the early hours of Christmas Eve where Robertson entered the building and stole $50,000 in cash.
Robertson made a beeline south to Christchurch following the burglary after purchasing a Subaru Legacy from a Nelson resident, under the guise of Stefan Te Aho.
He checked into a motel, under the alias, upon arriving in Christchurch that afternoon.
Robertson then spent the next 24 hours with a sex worker where he took methamphetamine.
The pair went to Robertson's motel from where he retrieved a shoe box of money which he said was from gambling.
The woman said she saw him count between $10,000-$15,000 in front of her.
On Christmas Day they went to New Brighton Beach where Robertson swam.
She told police he looked as if "he was a strong swimmer".
"Lewis wanted to jump off the New Brighton Pier for fun, but the woman talked him out of it."
Robertson left the woman's house at 4pm that afternoon after rebuffing his suggestion "that she be his girlfriend and come on a road trip with him".
"The woman was clear that she was not interested in this.
"Lewis told her that he was going to try and get some more methamphetamine."
Shortly after 8pm on Christmas Day, Robertson was captured on CCTV at a Christchurch petrol station.
He was again captured driving north to Amberley about an hour later.
Between 9pm and 10.30pm, Robertson and the sex worker exchanged dozens of text messages about money, where she threatened to involve the police for money owed.
She tried calling at about 10.30pm before sending a series of further texts which "were not received by [Robertson's] phone".
Merle, who also had been in touch with Robertson that day, told police she spoke to him at about 10pm.
"Shortly after this Lewis sent her a message saying 'Becci they found me'. He did not answer her messages after this."
Shortly after midnight on 26 December, CCTV captured Robertson driving south through Amberley.
"There is no evidence that Lewis was seen, or captured on CCTV footage, after this time."
Early Boxing Day morning, walkers on Amberley Beach came across cash on the sand.
Near the high tide mark, police found a pair of shoes which were identical to ones worn by Robertson in CCTV footage.
Police found the Subaru Legacy which he had bought in Nelson in the beach carpark.
Forensic pathologist David Taylor performed a post-mortem on Robertson's remains and found minimal evidence of injuries.
Samples for a toxicological analysis also were not possible.
He noted drowning as a possible cause but was unable to conclude it as a definite cause.
The pathologist was asked about the fact Robertson's body decomposed in a matter of days.
Taylor told the inquiry this was "quite normal" for bodies that enter the water off the East Coast of the South Island to be stripped in a very short time by "sea lice, sand lice, and associated small sea creatures".
Cunninghame ruled Robertson died, either "by suicide, or by an accidental drowning or drug overdose".
"While it is not possible to know exactly how Lewis died, I hope that the facts that have been established can assist in obtaining closure."
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: free counselling for 5 to 19 years old, online chat 11am-10.30pm 7days/week or free phone 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 11am-11pm Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm or text 832 Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi and English.
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
Help with alcohol and drugs
Alcohol Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797
