After death in the harbour, pals remember ‘affable guy’

The man who was found dead in the harbour early yesterday morning has been identified as Ian Kempe McGavern, a man well known on Front Street as ‘Dundee’ because of his time spent in Australia. 

Police say the 66-year-old was from Southampton.

His brother, Craig, died 16 years ago not far from the spot where Ian’s body was found. Craig had been involved in an altercation at a Front Street bar and had suffered fatal head injuries after being knocked down a fight of stairs by a bar manager. The manager was jailed for nine months.     

Yesterday, those who know Ian McGavern, described the 65-year-old as nice and friendly.

At about  4:42am yesterday morning, first responders arrived near the large flagpole on Front Street in Hamilton to a report of a body of a male in Hamilton Harbour. 

The man was pulled out of the water and taken to hospital where he was pronounced dead at 5.20 am. Details of what exactly happened are at this point still unclear but foul play is not suspected.

Henry, a 77-year-old homeless man who says he goes by the nickname ‘Puss’ said he’d known Kempe McGavern for years, but never knew his real name: “I just called him Crocodile Dundee. Everyone called him Dundee. He’s been here for many, many years, he was a really good guy.”

Andre, a 47-year-old who washes cars on Front Street, told us: “We don’t know what happened, but he was a good guy. It’s a shame. He’d give you the shirt off his back. He was friendly and fun.”

‘A people person’

More than one Front Street bartender described him as an affable people person who enjoyed a good party.

Kempe McGavern would frequent Juice ‘n Beans every morning, usually between 7:45 and 8am, where he took his coffee black, according to Sydney Bean, the co-owner of the café. Sometimes he would drink it outside, sometimes he would stay and chat with patrons or read the paper.

“He was a polite guy. We always knew what he wanted,” Mr Bean told us.