One dead, one hurt after jet boat crash
One person has died and another is injured after a jet boat crash in Central Otago.
Police were called to the Clutha River at Hawea Flat, near Wanaka, about 1.30pm yesterday, a spokeswoman said.
One person died at the scene. St John spokeswoman Neha Concisom said a helicopter crew took another person with moderate injuries to Dunedin Hospital.
Maritime New Zealand has been notified of the incident.
The New Zealand Jet Boat River Racing Association’s (NZJBRRA) Otago River Race was in the Clutha River at the time of the crash.
A nearby resident said they had heard the crash happened during a race.
NZJBRRA has been approached for comment.
The Swift Water Rescue team was called to assist with the scene examination.
The area where the crash happened was difficult to access. Emergency services would take some time to establish the cause of the crash, a police statement said. A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said firefighters helped clear the landing zone for the helicopter.
The incident comes just one day after 10 people were injured when the jet boat they were on crashed into a vertical canyon near Queenstown.
Nine passengers and a Skippers Canyon Jet driver were injured in the crash about 10am on Saturday.
One person – a Canadian woman – was taken to Dunedin Hospital with a broken leg.
The others suffered minor injuries.
The company has temporarily suspended its operations while an initial investigation into the cause of the crash is carried out.