Jetski Tragedy Highlights Urgentโค Needโ for River Safety: Coroner’s Reportโค Released
New Plymouth, Newโค Zealand – โA tragic jetski accident on the Waitara River in 2021 has prompted a coronerโ toโค issue a stark warning aboutโ the dangers of exceeding speed limits near structures.โ The โincident, which resulted in the death of 40-year-old Patricia Elaine Teresa Wilson wirihana Takanini (knownโ as Tira Wilson), underscores โคthe critical importance of adhering to maritime safety regulations.
Coroner Heidi Wrigley โคreleased her findings today, recommending the New Plymouthโ District Council install clearerโฃ signage indicating the five-knot speed restriction near the waitara River bridge and other structures. The report details aโ harrowing sequence of events that led toโ Ms. Wilson’s fatal injuries.
What Happened on theโ River?
On November 10,2021,Ms. Wilson wasโ riding onโ aโข skiโข biscuit being towed by a jetski driven by Leevi Toa on the lower Waitara River, near New Plymouth. The jetski was travelling at โapproximately 20 km/h (11 knots) as it approached the Town Bridge – significantly exceeding the legally mandatedโ five-knot limit โขwithin 200 metersโ of any structure.
As the jetski neared the bridge,another rider on the biscuit fellโฃ off. The ski biscuit then rodeโ up over the wake of โฃthe jetski,โ swinging dangerously close to the concrete bridge pillars. Mr. Toa attemptedโฃ to warn Ms. Wilson to dismount, but it’s believed sheโ did not hear โขhim.โ
According โคto the coroner’s report,Mr.Toa โฃmaintained a “constant throttle”โค while under the bridge to maintain โฃcontrol. He then released the throttle in an attempt toโฃ make a sharpโ turn, but it was too late. Ms. Wilson was thrown โขfrom the biscuit and struck her head โon a bridge pillar.
Despiteโ immediate first aid efforts,โฃ including CPR administered byโ Mr. Toa and arriving ambulance personnel, Ms. Wilson was pronouncedโ dead at the scene.She was not wearing a โlife jacket โat the time of โคthe accident.
Speed Identified as a Key Factor
Coroner Wrigley’s investigation concludedโ that speed wasโ a significant contributing factor to the severity of Ms.Wilson’s injuries.While Mr. Toa stated โhe slowed to 20 km/hโ as a “ritual” when approaching the bridge, believing โthe wake would keep the biscuit away fromโ the structure, this speed was stillโข four timesโค the legal limit.
“Had Mr Toa been operating the jet ski in accordance with the five-knots rule, Msโ Wilson โฃWirihana takanini is farโ less likely to have sustained her fatal injuries, due to the lower forces involved,” Wrigley stated in her report.
No Charges Filed, But โCalls for Improvedโค Safety
Neither police nor Maritime NZ pursued โคcharges against โmr.Toa following the incident. Maritime NZ, after reviewing the case and consulting with the families involved, determined no further action was necessary.
However, the association has pledged to support the New Plymouth District Council in reviewing and replacingโข boating safety โคsignage alongโ the Waitara River. โ Michael-Paul Abbott, General Manager โฃof Regulatoryโฃ Operations at Maritime NZ, confirmed โthe organization is committed to working with local and national water safety โorganizations to improve safety measures.
A Tragic Reminder
This case serves as a tragic reminder โคof the potential consequences of disregarding โคmaritime safety regulations. The coroner’s recommendations highlight the need โขfor clear, visible signage and a โrenewed emphasis on responsible jetski operation to prevent future โขtragedies on New Zealand waterways.
Keywords: Jetski accident, Waitara River, New โPlymouth, Coroner’s โreport, Maritime safety, Speed limits, Water safety, New Zealand, Tira Wilson, Bridge accident.
