Man critically injured in powerboat accident

7.00pm

A man critically injured in a Rotorua power boat race was pulled unconscious from the water within seconds of the accident yesterday.

The man was participating in a race on Lake Rotoma organised by the Bay of Plenty Powerboat Association when his boat pitched and he was thrown out, regional harbourmaster for the Bay of Plenty Maritime Section Andrew Lang said.

The 49-year-old Te Kauwhata man suffered spinal, pelvic and internal injuries when his boat pitched in the lake churned up lake by boats racing as fast as 160kmh. He remained in a critical condition in Rotorua Hospital tonight.

Mr Lang said race organisers had appropriate safety procedures and their reaction was "absolutely brilliant".

The lake was closed for the event and organisers had four rescue boats on the water during the race. All were at the scene within a minute of the accident with the nearest boat with the patient within seconds.

The unconscious man was put on a spinal board and taken ashore. He regained consciousness 12 minutes after the accident and flown to hospital by the Rotorua based Tenon Rescue Helicopter.

- NZPA