A Bay of Plenty teenager is missing and feared dead after falling off a jet ski and getting run over by friends at Lake Okareka near Rotorua on Saturday afternoon.


File picture.

Rotorua police were notified of the accident at about 4pm on Saturday; the lake is now closed and a kayak search is underway.
The Police Dive Squad arrives at 1pm today to continue the search.

It is believed that the 17-year-old high school student was not wearing a lifejacket.

This incident is one of two involving jetskis in two days; on Friday night a jetski and an inflatable dinghy collided in Pauanui and resulted in two male youths being hospitalised with injuries.

The jetski had a 16-year-old and a 12-year-old on board and the dinghy powered by an outboard motor had two 11-year-old boys on board.

An 11-year-old boy suffered broken ribs, a broken jaw and upper palate and other injuries and was airlifted to Auckland's Starship Hospital on Friday night and the 12-year-old boy was taken to Thames Hospital for observation.

Maritime New Zealand says these two serious jetski accidents illustrate the need for boaties' care and awareness of their own safety and that of everyone sharing water with them as the summer holidays draw to a close.

Investigations by police and Maritime New Zealand will clarify the circumstances of these incidents, but the overriding message is one of personal responsibility for all those driving and responsible for boats and recreational vessels.

Maritime New Zealand investigators will head to Rotorua and Tairua today and tomorrow to investigate two collisions and assist police in their investigations.

Maritime safety inspector Jim Lilley says the responsibility for every boat skipper is paramount especially with the level of activity on the water during the summer holiday period.

'Just as there are rules for the way we operate motor vehicles on our roads, there are rules that follow us out on the water and govern how we operate our vessels, with awareness of others and care for yourself, your passengers and those in the water near you at the top of the list.”

He says it is important while out on the water to wear lifejackets, check the weather forecast, having a reliable means of communication available and avoiding alcohol.

'Out on the water the 5 knot rule provides a safety margin in which vessels are required to slow down to walking pace when they come close to other vessels or swimmers, within 200m of the shore or a dive flag, or if they have passengers bow-riding.”

The same rules require every skipper to maintain a proper lookout and to maintain a safe speed at all times.

'These are the main things anybody out on the water should remember, and everyone should enjoy the rest of their summer holidays and we can avoid any more accidents.”