Two jet ski riders who collided with the Hunters Creek ammunition barge on Sunday afternoon have been discharged from Tauranga Hospital.
A 42-year-old Auckland man suffered suspected pelvic injuries when he slammed into the handlebars of the jet ski as it struck the barge.
Tauranga Coastguard at the scene of the crash overnight. Photo: Supplied.
His 19-year-old passenger, from Papamoa, was also treated and discharged for arm injuries from the incident.
Tauranga Volunteer coastguard's 13m powercat TECT Rescue and Sealegs Rescue were on the water near Omokoroa when boaties on the beach called about the collision via VHF.
The injured men were given first aid by an off-duty nurse at the popular beach. Read more here.
The 19-year-old was transferred to TECT Rescue, while the jet ski's skipper, who was not able to walk, was taken by the Sealegs to an ambulance waiting at Sulphur Point.
Other jet ski users and waterskiers at the beach say the jet ski was speeding close to harbour markers and the barge wreck, when the jet ski appeared to lose control and crash into the steel and concrete remains.
As one of the few sheltered ski lanes in Tauranga Harbour, Hunters Creek it is a popular spot for personal water craft, skiers and water toys.
The barge wreck is located on a sandbank west of the Matakana Island ski lane, where it has been decaying for about 40 years.
It narrows the gap between the wreck and the island. Witnesses on the beach say unless everyone adheres to the 'anticlockwise” rule, keeping to the right, then problems can occur.
The jet ski severely damaged its bow and had disappeared by the time Coastguard arrived.
First on the scene was the harbourmaster's patrol, which was in the area.
The harbourmaster's office says today the skipper of the jet ski was breaking the five knot rule - speed is reduced to five knots when within 200 metres of the shore or any structre - when he struck the barge.
"We will not be investigating this incident further as we are already aware of the facts," says harbourmaster Peter Buell.
"Our primary focus is education and in this instance we will not be issuing a fine or infringement notice, as the safety message is already clear."
The jet ski is a write-off and was towed away by a friend of the injured man.
5 comments
Why no fine?
Posted on 18-01-2016 11:14 | By Twinkle Toes
Why no fine if he was clearly breaking the 5 knot rule? Why fine some and not others? Sounds like he was going way over the sped limit. Law is law and to fine or not fine people just isnt right.
agree
Posted on 18-01-2016 12:54 | By hapukafin
agree,agree, agree.There is too many cases where there is a rule one and another rule for others.
Ski zone
Posted on 18-01-2016 14:49 | By TJ
This area is a ski lane so the 5 knot rule doesn't apply. I think everyone who drives a jet ski or boat should have to sit something like a drivers licence though. There are a lot of idiots out there who have no idea, and don't seem to care.
Is it a Ski Lane or NOT???
Posted on 18-01-2016 15:41 | By Watcher 1
The Harbourmasters office should be requested to verify if the area in which the accident took place is actually a registered Ski Lane or not? If it is NOT a Ski Lane and the 5 knot rule apply's I agree the Skipper must be fined otherwise they have set a precedent should another similar incident occur. You just cannot let one go and then fine others. SO, Harbourmasters Office please fully clarify?
Confused...
Posted on 18-01-2016 16:25 | By penguin
So TJ says the area is a ski lane therefore not subject to the 5knot rule. The harbourmaster says the driver would not be issued with a fine. By stating the latter, it implies that an infringement of some type did occur. One assumes the harbourmaster to be correct (Quote:
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