Guilty pleas after boat smash

A horror jetboat crash on a South Island lake has seen two men convicted and ordered to pay $7300 each in fines and reparations.

Jackson Harraway, 21, was water skiing behind a jet boat being driven by his mate, Rory Fisher, 21, in November 2019.

Fisher had limited boating experience, a court heard, and was driving the boat at about 20-25 knots (37-46km/h) at Lake Hood, near Ashburton in Mid Canterbury.

He frequently turned around to communicate with Harraway instead of looking where he was going. There was no spotter on board.

Fisher did a U-turn on the lake at speed and collided with a ski biscuit that three women were riding on, being pulled by a boat.

One woman was knocked off and pushed under the boat. She suffered injuries to her head, jaw and elbow and lacerations to her legs. Another woman was concussed.

Both Harraway and Fisher were charged by Maritime NZ.

The pair pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary danger or risk to another person when they appeared in Christchurch District Court on Thursday.

Maritime NZ’s southern compliance manager Domonic Venz said the case sent a strong message that there must always be a spotter or lookout on board when towing anyone at speeds over 5 knots.

“It was extremely lucky that no one was more seriously injured or even killed.”