Witness tells of helping visitor burned in sinkhole
A visitor from Australia has been transferred to Waikato Hospital in a serious but stable condition after being injured by falling into a sinkhole of hot water at Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa — The Living Mā ori Village.
The second person involved in the fall was also treated, but not admitted to hospital.
A witness to the incident, Tessa Marks, told One News she was having lunch ‘‘when we could hear someone call out for help’’.
She said she ‘‘jumped into action’’ and called an ambulance, and initially thought someone had fallen on the pavement, before ‘‘we saw the ground had opened up’’.
The village has also been temporarily closed to visitors while an investigation takes place.
It’s believed the person fell into a geothermal hole which opened up on the footpath.
St John paramedics were called to the village on Tryon St just after 2pm on Thursday, a spokesperson said.
One patient is in a critical condition, and another with moderate injuries, were initally transported to Rotorua Hospital by ambulance. One has since been transferred to Waikato Hospital.
A Rotorua Hospital spokeswoman said yesterday morning that one person was in a serious but stable condition.
Village spokesperson Mike Gibbons said he understood the people injured were a couple from Perth in Western Australia who were walking along a footpath near the entrance to the village and were injured after falling into a fumarole (geothermal sinkhole).
Gibbons said the village would be temporarily closed to visitors until a ‘‘full investigation and assessment had been undertaken by the appropriate authorities, including WorkSafe and the Rotorua Lakes Council’’.
He said WorkSafe and a council maintenance team where on-site to carry out an initial inspection.
‘‘The area surrounding the fumarole, which is estimated to be 2m long x 1m wide and up to 1m deep . . . has been closed off to the public, pending the WorkSafe assessment.
‘‘It appears the ground may have been compromised following the recent heavy rainfall.’’
Gibbons said their first priority was to offer support to the visiting family and were hoping to get an update on their medical situation late yesterday. He also acknowledged the efforts of his team who were first responders at the scene. In a statement Rotorua Lakes Council said they were notified of the incident just before 2.15pm on Thursday, and staff from their roading contractor were immediately dispatched to the scene to make it safe.
‘‘The area around the hole remains cordoned off and the road is closed, with signage in place,’’ Council said. ‘‘Work to fix the road will start as soon as possible and other roads in the village will be checked as a precaution.
‘‘Council will stay in touch with its contacts in the village to keep residents updated on progress.’’