We’ve often mentioned the tragic death of British tourist Emily Jordan, who drowned on an organised riverboarding activity whilst on holiday in New Zealand in April 2008.
In November we raised our concern that an inquest still hadn’t been held into her death in New Zealand. Read Still no inquest for Emily Jordan.
Emily’s father, Chris Jordan has contacted us
I am the father of Emily Jordan who you may remember was killed in NZ in April 2008 whilst river boarding with Mad Dog. The Company and owner was subsequently prosecuted, but the owner was let off. The Company finished up with a small fine for killing my bright intelligent daughter, which was covered by an insurance company? Interesting result?
I am now preparing for an inquest in the UK, as the NZ Coroner refused to do this. I have not been given the reason why for this. I can only make assumptions?
If anyone has any information that may be relevant for the inquest I would appreciate them contacting me.My E Mail address is:
chris.jordan@theemilyjordanfoundation.org.ukI am planning to publish a book after the inquest, so all information is relevant but will remain confidential. However this must be factual.
Thank you,
Chris Jordan
Anyone who is able to help Mr Jordan with pertinent information is advised to contact him. We wish him well for the forthcoming inquest.
Last year in an interview with Queentown’s Scene, “The free voice of Queenstown,” Chris Jordan has said he was going push for an inquest into his daughter’s death to be held in the UK if one isn’t held in NZ. He said that he was disappointed to still be waiting to hear if one will be held.
“I don’t believe that I sitting in the UK should be insisting on an inquest in New Zealand – it should happen as a matter of priority…It’s just bizarre to me.”
Scene said:
“Otago-Southland regional coroner David Crerar told Mountain Scene last week that he won’t decide whether he’ll conduct an inquest into the Jordan death till after a Government investigation into adventure tourism led by Labour Minister Kate Wilkinson.
Jordan: “I believe that David Crerar is getting the two issues mixed up – there’s a ministerial inquiry which is investigating extreme sports … I don’t understand why [he] has to wait till the end of the ministerial inquiry because that’s got nothing to do with Emily’s individual case.”
As coroner, Crerar has the power to make potentially law-changing recommendations through an inquest. “I’m hoping that David Crerar will make recommendations with regard to improved safety of riverboarding,” Jordan says.
“Part of Emily’s legacy must be to create better knowledge of how to avoid these deaths in the future. If no fundamental change takes place, it will happen again.”
He was absolutely right, the review has got nothing to do with the details of Emily’s death, if there are lessons to be learned about why she died what better way to do so than by holding an inquest?
And now, months after the report was released we finally learn that an inquest will not be held in New Zealand. Why is that?
Has a decision been made to avoid adverse publicity harming ‘trade’ or is it to be held back until the Rugby World Cup is over – for the same reason?
The Queenstown coroner, David Crerar, admitted to Scene that there were:
“a number of ancillary matters relating to the death of Emily Jordan that could be the subject of closer scrutiny”
But said he was waiting to see if they were addressed in the report.
So were they addressed in the report, or not?
According to a BBC news report an inquest into Emily’s death was opened in the UK on 9 May 2008, shortly after she died, however it was adjourned.
The West Bromwich coroner, Robin Balmain, said he would wait until a full inquiry into her death was conducted and he hoped the full inquest could be held in New Zealand.
The West Bromwich Advertiser shed more light on Mr Balmain’s decision in an article published on 9 May 2008:
“He added he had been advised by the authorities in New Zealand that the medical cause of death of the 21-year-old, of Valley House, Trimpley, was asphyxiation, due to drowning.
He explained: “She was on a trip with her boyfriend. They were river boarding and, in the course of that, she got into difficulties and drowned.
“This is a very distressing case. The circumstances are quite tragic. I understand she had recently completed a law degree and it is very sad her life should be ended in this way.”
He said there would be a full inquiry in New Zealand and law in England required him to resume the hearing in “due course”.
He added: “When the Government published the draft Coroner’s Bill in June, 2006 they promised they would explore the possibility of coroners not holding inquests in this country in certain circumstances.
“If there is a full inquiry in New Zealand this could be such a case. I hope the Government will give due consideration to that possibility.”
Here we are, almost three years on since Emily Jordan died and there has still not been a full inquiry, nor has there been an inquest in NZ.
The circumstances of Emily’s death, risk being being rolled-up together into the general investigation into adventure sports and getting conveniently ‘lost’ within it, never to be heard of again.
For that to happen would be manifestly unjust, Emily and her family deserve better.
For more about the Adevnture Tourism review’s finding read our extensive Adventure tourism and safety facts and stats page, which includes the following information
- “Labour minister Kate Wilkinson said it was “scary” that just about anyone could set up an adventure tourism business.” quote in the Sydney Morning Herald.
- British doctor Tom Donaldson died whilst particpating in an organised sand boarding activity in Omapere -Opononi in Northland. At his inquest in November 2010 the coroner said “Visitors wanting to experience New Zealand’s adventure tourism should be warned that they are taking a risk.” and that adventure tourism businesses should warn those keen to experience the thrills about the dangers via their websites.
- 448 adventure tourism workplace accidents that resulted in serious harm… were reported directly to DOL during the five-year period 1 July 2004-30 June 2009. Not all workplace accidents in the sector are being reported to DOL, possibly because they are viewed as recreation rather than workplace accidents.
- “Many injuries go unreported, so the figures of injuries included in the report are unrealistically low. I’ve studied adventure tourism injuries for the past decade and many injuries to overseas visitors are never reported to official bodies.” said Professor Tim Bentley, director of Massey University’s School of Management’s Healthy Work Group. August 2010.
For other blogs about Emily Jordan click here
E2NZ.org 