Dead swimmer's heartbroken wife: 'I've lost my best friend'

Leslie Gelberger was killed while swimming off Auckland's North Shore

Laura and her boys have lost their beloved Leslie in a tragic incident while out enjoying his favourite past time swimming.
Leslie Gelberger a much loved husband, father, friend and teacher at Westlake girls school. Was an avid outdoors man who lived for his family.

Swimmer Leslie Gelberger 'would have liked a party not a funeral':

The funeral for an Auckland teacher killed while out on an ocean swim will be held on Sunday and guests have been asked to dress to celebrate.

Leslie Gelberger failed to return from an ocean swim that started at Narrow Neck Beach on Thursday last week. His body, missing a leg, was found floating off Mairangi Bay on Friday.

Police are investigating whether Gelberger - from Canada and a teacher at Westlake Girls' High School - was struck by a Ports of Auckland pilot boat while swimming.

Friends and family will gather at Westlake Girls' High School in Takapuna on Sunday to celebrate his life.

The death notice asked that people dress to celebrate, not mourn.

"Leslie would have liked a party not a funeral," it said.

An online post from Gelberger's widow, Laura McLeod echoed the request.

"Leslie went to more funerals than he liked growing up and always thought a party with lots of cake would be a better choice," she wrote.

McLeod earlier told the Herald her husband was "the world" to the couple's sons, 7 and 5.

"They are absolutely devastated and struggling to come to terms with what has happened," McLeod said.

I have lost my best friend, the best father to my boys and the most amazing, kindest, positive and adventurous person I have ever known."

A Givealittle page set up to help the family had raised almost $43,219 this afternoon.

In an update on the page McLeod thanked all those who had donated.

"This horrific, awful, terrible, life-shattering event has been made more bearable due to the unending support from so many people," it read.

"I have read and cried over each and every comment and will be saving the stories for the boys when they are older so they can know just how great their dad really was.

"There are no words to adequately express my gratitude, we knew we had found an amazing place living here in New Zealand, but we really didn't know how lucky we were."

Police today said their investigation into the man's death was ongoing and no new information could be released.

Ports of Auckland communications manager Matt Ball said police had completed their investigation of the pilot boat believed to be involved but it was not yet back in use.

He said the company had not been updated by the police on the investigation.