Man's lucky escape after jetboat accident

A man had a lucky escape after his jetboat hit a log in Lake Paringa. Photo / Thinkstock

A Paringa man whose jetboat struck a log on Monday evening had a lucky escape despite being "shot forward" into the bow of the boat and breaking his leg.

The man, aged in his early 60s, dragged himself from inside the bow and drove the boat back to Lake Paringa to call for help.

Apparently he ordinarily used the boat to gain access to his isolated home, on the coastal side of Lake Paringa.

NZCC Rescue Helicopter pilot Angus Taylor said the man was boating on the Hall River, the outfall from Lake Paringa, when the bow of his jetboat struck a log that was probably submerged just under the surface of the water.

"He hit the tree with enough force that he went right down into the bow ... and then managed to drag himself out with a broken femur," Mr Taylor said.

Luckily the boat was still operable after striking the submerged tree and he was able to go back upstream to the lake to call for help.

"He was extracted from the boat after managing to make his way back to the slipway."

Mr Taylor airlifted the patient to Grey Base Hospital and he was subsequently transferred by helicopter to Christchurch Hospital early yesterday afternoon to undergo surgery.