‘No chance’ to escape as tree falls on family
There was “no chance” of escaping a tree that toppled on to a group of people, critically injuring two, during strong gales at the Shotover Jet site in Queenstown yesterday.
The incident occurred during an afternoon when wild winds battered the area, and MetService had issued a severe weather watch for the Southern Lakes area, saying westerly winds could rise to severe gale in exposed places.
Emergency services, including three helicopters, rushed to the Arthurs Point Rd site at 1pm, where five people were injured.
Two were critical, one person was seriously injured, one person was moderately injured, and one person received minor injuries, a St John spokesman said.
One of the critically injured patients was flown by helicopter to Dunedin Hospital, while the other four were taken to Lakes District Hospital, he said.
MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said wind gusts in the area reached 65km/h.
Some “big jumps” and “much stronger winds” were logged at more exposed recording stations.
A person at the scene described it as “absolute chaos” after the tree, estimated at more than 15 metres tall, came down. Detective Senior Sergeant Malcolm Inglis said police were investigating.
The large, old willow tree gave up in the strong winds, he said, collapsing where a family were watching the Shotover boats. “They’ve had no chance to get out of the way of the falling tree. It was the wrong place, unfortunately, at the wrong time, and it was a tree that has been there for a long time.”
Inglis praised the response of Shotover Jet staff and bystanders.
“Obviously there was a large, heavy tree lying on top of the family and to extract them was not easy.
“They did a great job of getting the tree up and off the family and administrating medical assistance while waiting for ambulance to arrive.” A Department of Conservation spokeswoman confirmed the tree was on conservation land, in an area subject to a commercial lease.
“We are currently determining who is responsible for maintenance of trees in this location.”
Ngai Tahu Tourism, which owns Shotover Jet, was providing support “to all those affected and their whanau”.
“We are also supporting our team who were understandably shaken by today’s events.”
It is understood the family were visitors from Wellington.
Shotover Jet remained closed for the rest of the day.