Victim knew the jet boating risks

The ‘‘loyal and determined’’ man killed in a Canterbury jet boating accident understood the risks of motorsport, his wife says.

Duayne Insley, 47, died after he was struck by a log while navigating a boat during a World Championship Jetboat Marathon race on the Waimakariri River, north of Christchurch, on Sunday morning.

His wife, Deana Insley, said he was her ‘‘rock’’ and her ‘‘soulmate’’ who ‘‘lived for the outdoors, hunting and camping’’.

‘‘He gave my life meaning and absolute happiness. We worked, lived and travelled together, but he never stopped my independence either. I will miss him every minute of every day for the rest of my life.

‘‘I will remember Duayne for his strong will, his determination to get things done and his no-nonsense attitude.

‘‘Duayne’s loyalty to the people and community that he loved was impeccable.

‘‘He has risked life and limb for many others and has touched many hearts.’’

She said the Glenorchy man, known to his friends as Dweeb, loved his daughter, Evee, ‘‘first and foremost, and above all others’’.

‘‘And he loved me with a tenderness and passion that had to be seen to be appreciated. He lived for the outdoors, hunting and camping, and he delighted in acquiring a digger and bulldozer to rearrange the earth.’’

Deana said her husband knew motorsport risks and the jet boat driver Dwayne Terry was one of his closest friends.

‘‘We all understood that this sport is a high risk sport, there is no blame attached. Dwayne Terry is a faultless driver.

‘‘This is an accident in the true meaning of the word, it was unpredicted and unforeseen. My heart goes out to him and his family.’’

Terry earlier told Stuff he would not race jet boats again after the ‘‘freak accident’’ that killed his best friend, who was ‘‘like a brother’’. The pair had raced together for six years.

Insley, sitting in the navigator’s seat on the right side of the jet boat, was killed instantly when he struck a protruding log.

‘‘Without him I don’t want to do it,’’ Terry said. ‘‘I don’t think my head would ever be in the right space again after this tragedy.’’

Police were investigating the crash on behalf of the coroner.

Duayne had worked as a jet boat driver for Queenstown’s Dart River Jet Safaris and was, with his wife, an owner/ operator of High Country Horses trekking company.

He had 15 years’ experience with jet boats and had raced extensively with Terry.

Deana said her husband had proposed to her in Monaco just before accepting the world title for the FX jet boat class in Monaco in 2013.

Insley and Terry had twice been New Zealand FX class champions and had won races ‘‘on every river in the South Island’’.

Deana said she had received hundreds of messages of support.

A celebration of Duayne Insley’s life will be held in Glenorchy on Sunday.