Family keep vigil for missing teen

The Coastguard and police divers continue to search for a missing jet skier on Lake Okareka in Rotorua. Photo / NZPA

Police divers have suspended their search for a teenaged boy missing since a collision between two jetskis near Rotorua yesterday.

The 17-year-old has not been seen since the collision on Lake Okareka about 4pm and is presumed dead.

Members of the police dive squad from Wellington today found no trace of the teenager, who had not been wearing a life jacket, Detective Sergeant John Wilson said.

They would be resuming their search of the lake tomorrow morning, he told NZPA.

"The family are keeping vigil out at the lake where they intend to stay until the search is resolved."

A helicopter and several boats scoured the lake yesterday and the dive squad arrived today.

"The search yesterday was for a survivor, but the search today is a body recovery mission," Mr Wilson said.

Police interviewed members of the party last night. Officers canvassed the area today hoping to find witnesses with an independent perspective, Mr Wilson said.

Maritime safety inspectors have called for jetski and boat users to take greater care following yesterday's accident and another, near Tairua, on Friday evening.

They say personal responsibility from all boat and recreational drivers is paramount.

"The key factors for safe boating are not rocket science," Maritime New Zealand safety inspector Jim Lilley said.

"Just as there are rules for the way we operate motor vehicles on our roads, there are rules that follow us out on the water and govern how we operate our vessels, with awareness of others and care for yourself, your passengers and those in the water near you at the top of the list."

Mr Lilley said boat and jetski users needed to slow to 5 knots, or about 9km/h, either when they came close to other vessels or swimmers, within 200m of the shore or a dive flag, or if they had passengers bow riding.

Every skipper was required to maintain a proper lookout and to maintain a safe speed at all times.

"These are the main things anybody out on the water should remember, and everyone should enjoy the rest of their summer holidays and we can avoid any more accidents," he said.

Rotorua Detective Sergeant John Wilson said the Rotorua teen missing at Lake Okareka did not appear to be wearing a life jacket when the jetskis collided.

The Herald on Sunday was told the boy fell from one jetski and was hit by a following one.

Rotorua harbourmaster Ross Powell said he was saddened searchers were dealing with a "needless" tragedy.

"We have been drumming home the need for water safety and the importance of wearing life jackets but the message doesn't seem to be getting through," said Powell.

Wellington's Dave Corbett took his own runabout to help search. Wiping tears from his eyes, he said: "All I could think about was what if it was one of my kids. I don't think they are going to find him alive. It's been too long. I just feel for the family now.

"What a horrid memory of their holiday when they should be going home with great memories of this beautiful spot."

Lake ranger Mike Goodwin said: "Someone has come off a jetski and another has hit him hard at a big speed. He would have had very serious head injuries. There have been reports from some people who were at the lake at the time that they were going very fast and being irresponsible," he said.

"Jetskis are a lot of fun for people. They're like trail bikes on water. They are a lot of fun but very dangerous and very powerful. Some are capable of up to 100km/h," he said.

"I don't think they understood the rules. They shouldn't have been travelling at speed so close together. The rule is five knots within 50m of another vessel and personal flotation devices must be worn."

Lake Okareka Lodge manager Diana Moore confirmed the two jetskis were travelling close to each other when the collision happened.

"A passenger has come off and another jetski ran into him and he disappeared under the water. He was not wearing a lifejacket."

A resident, who declined to be named, said she had seen a group of young men riding recklessly in a speed restricted area. "They went hooning past me and I yelled at them to slow down but of course they didn't."

Friday's collision in Pauanui was between two inflatable rigid-hulled boats, one powered by an outboard motor, the other propelled by a jet engine.

The 5m jet-engined boat was piloted by a 16-year-old who eyewitnesses said had been circling the 4m outboard.

The larger boat ploughed into the smaller craft, causing serious injuries to an 11-year-old boy. He was flown to Starship Children's Hospital suffering broken ribs, and a broken jaw and upper palate.

The 12-year-old boy on the larger boat was taken to Thames hospital with moderate injuries.

Witnesses reported speed as a factor in the crash. Police yesterday warned boaties to stick to the five knot (9km/h) limit within harbour confines.

The last serious crash involving a jet-powered craft in the area was in 2002 when student Adam David Brown died.

Pauanui-Tairua harbour master Wayne Price said parents needed to remember boats were potentially deadly machines.

Price said it was "extremely difficult" to police waterways because harbourmasters did not have certified speed radars. Around 30 speed infringement notices were issued each summer in Pauanui, he added.

Whangamata harbourmaster Dave Moncur said the boys were too young to be in charge of any vessel. "We would stop that. An 11-year-old and a 16-year-old are not fit to be driving any vessel. ... What's wrong with the parents that they give an 11-year-old a [boat]? They have to have responsibility."

Constable Richard Jellyman said Maritime New Zealand would inspect both vessels. Boaties needed to stick to posted speed limits in harbours, he said, and parents needed to supervise children on the water.

Port of Taranaki harbour master Captain John Ireland said he frequently issued warnings to jet skiers doing more than 80km/h close to shore and other vessels.

"When you're going at that speed it's difficult to see swimmers in the water - jetskis run straight through them.

"If people followed the law there would be no problems."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY, NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB