A Bay of Plenty couple are in hospital after their boat crashed into a cliff at speed on Lake Okataina.
It's not known exactly when the 6.5 metre alloy hulled boat with two people on board slammed into the cliff face, but Rotorua Lakes coastguard president Barry Grouby says they received call from police about 10.30pm.
The boat that struck the cliff at speed. Picture: Barry Grouby.
A member of the public listening to a scanner heard a mayday call and passed the details onto police.
'Had he known the right channel, it would have been picked up by coastguard straight away,” says Barry.
'I understand the boat is new, they had only had the boat a few days, but I think they have had previous boating experience.”
The injured couple are in their late 20s early 30s, says Barry. The man suffered serious facial injuries, while the woman sustained back and leg injuries.
'I was talking to the injured man and he said he was doing roughly 35-40 knots. He had just got up on the plane and was heading to another destination. Quite a speed. That's around 60km/h, that's quite fast you know.
'And the damage to the boat. It's a big strong boat, and its suffered serious damage, all completely stoved in on the front. The interior of the boat is quite high and the rail on the inside steering wheel is all bent,” explains Barry.
'It looks like he's been ejected out through the front windscreen. It's lucky he wasn't knocked unconscious and flung into the water, because he definitely wouldn't be here today.”
The crash happened down the southern end of the lake where there are quite a lot of rocky outcrops.
'It's a deep lake and deep close to shore. I think where they struck the rock cliff face, it drops straight down to about 20 metres.”
Driving off his depth would have given no warning, says Barry.
It was pitch black by the time the lakes coastguard had launched at the north end of the lake and reached the scene. There was no moonlight and no stars.
'Without having spoken to the man about it, I don't know if he was driving by sight or GPS,” says Barry.
'It's common that this happens when people are driving by GPS. It's not a good way to drive your boat at night. It might tell you where you are going but it's not a good indication of what's in front of you.”
In addition to the coastguard crew, there were two ambulances and the Rotoma Fire Brigade.
'There was not a lot they could do from the shore, but as paramedics to help out, it was great to have them there.
'My team last night did a fantastic job in taking charge and taking care of the people and going from there.”
10 comments
Boys
Posted on 08-10-2015 12:44 | By Plonker
New toys, lost before start.
blind driving
Posted on 09-10-2015 08:14 | By hapukafin
Dark night 60kph.What is this driver like on the road?
Amendments
Posted on 09-10-2015 11:32 | By Apolline
Firstly I would like to thank the Coast Guard for there amazing job on Thursday night. Huge thank you from Family and friends of the couple involved. However as a curtsy to the couple I feel some corrections are necessary. Firstly the are a Wanganui Couple. Secondly that they were driving 35-40km not knots and thirdly they were aware of the right channel but due to poor signal were unable to confirm a mayday had been received o continued through the channels. It was as predicted by Barry
Use some sense
Posted on 10-10-2015 07:16 | By simple.really
Wouldn't drive your car by GPS - why drive your boat this way? I certainly wouldn't pilot my boat at that speed if I couldn't see ahead of me.
Safe boating
Posted on 10-10-2015 12:53 | By cptn scully
I think this accident highlights the need for people to complete a competency course on boating before hitting the water. Doing this speed at night in unfamiliar territory is an accident waiting to happen. Fortunately it was a cliff they hit and not another boat which could have had a much worse outcome. Driving off GPS in not good on this lake as it is not charted. Glad they have only suffered the injuries they have and not worse but they need to do a day skippers course before hitting the water again. Hopefully next time they are a bit more cautious.
High Horse!!
Posted on 10-10-2015 13:42 | By Apolline
Well I am glad those commenting are so lucky they have never found themselves in a dangerous situation!! Even the very best and experienced boaters do!! But lets just assume incompetency shall we. Grow up know-it-alls- you were not there and can not say what you would or would not have done in the circumstances. It was a very unfortunate accident and a lesson learnt a very hard way. All it highlights is that they are human!!
Over sensitive
Posted on 11-10-2015 16:44 | By Papamoaner
Apolline is over sensitive and over reactive. Most of the comments made here are fair enough. As pointed out by someone, these clowns could have hit something different. Experienced boaties would never cruise like that in the dark. Fortunately for them, there were no other victims. If Apolline knows these people, a constructive move would be to pressure them to get, at the very least, a boatmaster's certificate before going afloat again.
oversenstive - but letting it go.
Posted on 17-10-2015 13:12 | By Apolline
Perhaps I am oversensitive...but only due to the fact that the facts in this article are far from accurate - they are family and I am very sensitive to them being labelled 'clowns' as this too is far from accurate! I appreciate that everyone is entitled to their opinion however if your opinions are based on half truths you are doing yourself and others a huge injustice.
Half truths??
Posted on 18-10-2015 09:24 | By Papamoaner
ok fair enough. let's have the facts then. What courses or qualifications did they complete before hitting the water?
My point exactly
Posted on 18-10-2015 13:03 | By Apolline
The exact type of question you should have asked before forming an opinion or posting a negative comment.
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