Editorial: Boats must be safe, but thrilling

Five people were injured when a Shotover Jet boat hit a rock in a narrow twisty canyon on the Shotover River on Saturday.

One of the most thrilling experiences of my life was when I went on a jet boat ride many years ago.

It was wild, fun, exhilarating and at times downright scary. I am not a person who scares easily, but there were a few moments here and there where I seriously wondered what I was doing.

The very skilled and trained driver did some manoeuvres that made me prepare myself for the worst.

But that is the point of something like a jet boat ride - it is an adventure sport and there is an element of risk.

Jet boats are in the news at the moment after five people were injured when a Shotover Jet boat hit a rock in a narrow twisty canyon on the Shotover River on Saturday.

A 12-year-old girl was airlifted by helicopter to Invercargill Hospital with suspected spinal injuries.

While tourists who pay to go on jet boats are certainly not expecting to be injured or, daresay, killed, they do realise the risks attached.

There has to be an element of responsibility on the part of the person putting themselves into such a situation.

However, all this comes against the backdrop that the operator is running a safe and professional operation. These operators aren't just given a licence and have to constantly prove that their safety standards are up to scratch. The drivers also undergo many hours of training before they can take passengers.

Having said all that, sometimes mistakes happen. As bad as it is that people were injured, it could have been worse.

A thorough inquiry is needed into this accident, but a knee-jerk reaction is not required.

Improve safety by all means, but keep some element of risk.

After all that is why people pay to go on these rides.