Inquiry launched into Lake Karapiro cable accident

The Maritime Safety Authority is investigating a yachting accident at Lake Karapiro that left two teenagers in Waikato Hospital with serious burns.

The mast of a yacht carrying five people hit a heavy transmission line crossing the lake, about 3.5km south of Karapiro Dam on the Waikato River, on Sunday afternoon.

The authority said it would investigate whether the line was adequately marked.

It is understood the 10cm mast tip struck the wires, causing electricity to travel down the mast and on to the yacht's surface.

Danielle Kay and friend Nadine Lee, both 14, received serious burns and were flown to hospital. They were in a stable condition last night but it was not clear when they would be released, a spokeswoman said.

Danielle's father, Anthony Kay, brother Sam, and other friend Rosemary Williams all suffered minor injuries.



TransPower, which owns the cable, said the accident could have caused worse injuries or even death.

Spokesman Wayne Eggleton said there were signposts in the area.

He said there had been no accidents involving the line concerned in the many years it had been there.

There was no legal requirement for the line to be marked.

The powerlines were 9.7m above the lake's surface, which was more than 3m above the legal requirement of 6.5m.

Mr Eggleton said the state-owned enterprise would cooperate with the investigation and conduct its own inquiries.

- NZPA


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