There has been another adventure tourism accident in New Zealand. Six people were injured late yesterday afternoon when a Shotover jet boat hit a rock near Arthurs Pt on the Shotover river, Queenstown.

The river was said to be flowing at a low rate of 20 cubic metres per second, a factor that Maritime New Zealand will take into effect when conducting its investigation.

Those on board included a 12 year old Australian girl with back injuries who was flown to hospital, and a New Zealand couple on their honeymoon. Five other people sustained “minor injuries.”

Acting Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen, of Dunedin, said fire brigade and ambulance officers were taken to the injured by jetboat after the 4.30pm crash. Worksafe and Maritime New Zealand had been told and would investigate…” more here

The tourist company is owned by Ngai Tahu Tourism, who expects to resume trading today. On 9 October 2014 the company ceased trading temporarily after one of its boats hit a rock on the Shotover river during a 10am trip. Passengers spoke of being left shaken by the October incident:

…It is understood after hitting the rock, the boat travelled across the canyon and struck another rock. In November 1999, a Japanese tourist was killed and 11 others injured when one of the company’s boats hit a canyon wall. Twenty-two days earlier nine passengers were taken to hospital after a boat hit a rock, but there were no major injuries. In 2010, 12 people received minor to moderate injuries when a Shotover Jet boat crashed into a cliff face…more here

Yesterday’s crash comes less than a week after 13 people were forced to bail out of a skydiving plane when its engine failed over Lake Taupo. That incident happened on the 3rd anniversary of the Carterton Hot Air Ballooning disaster when 11 people lost their lives. The British government’s Foreign and Commonwealth currently has this travel warning for tourism in New Zealand

Local travel There have been a number of tragic accidents involving British visitors, including during extreme sports activities. If you are taking part in extreme sports check that the company is well established in the industry and that your insurance covers you. If you are visiting remote areas, check with local tourist authorities for advice before setting out. Make sure you register your details with a visitor information centre or leave details with family or friends. Weather conditions can quickly become treacherous in some areas. Keep yourself informed of regional weather forecasts. source

Related

Excitor III and Mac Attack Companies Fined For Broken Backs

InterCity Group,, the company behind the Excitor III fast boat rides in Northland, has been instructed to pay a total of $270,000 to three passengers whose spines were fractured during separate rides last year…Also in court today was Seafort Holdings Ltd who was ordered to pay $90,000 to Catherine Cooke, 53, who was left a paraplegic after a rough trip on the Mack Attack pleasure boat in the Bay of Islands. The company was also fined 30,000…more here

Canadian tourist killed in NZ jet boat crash

Next time you see the 100% Pure You advertisement that shows a mother and daughters blowing away their cobwebs on a speed boat safari in New Zealand, spare a thought for the people who have been maimed and killed doing this type of activity in New Zealand. On the day that a Candian tourist met his death and another was seriously injured in a jet boat crash in Tauranga Harbour the NZ Herald also reported on the findings of an investigation into a jet boat crash that occurred in February 2008.

“Driver distraction was to blame for a serious jet boat crash in which several tourists were injured, including a man who suffered burns after being doused in petrol, the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has found. The Dart River Jet Safari boat crashed into a gravel bank and overturned on the Dart River in the Queenstown Lakes District, near Glenorchy, with 18 passengers aboard on February 20, 2008…. read on

For all articles about jet boat incidents in New Zealand click here Jet Boat