Teen in fiery monster truck stunt a keen volunteer

The teen was dressed in a fire-retardant suit and helmet. Photo / Via Monster Madness NZ Facebook

The schoolgirl involved in a spectacular monster truck fire stunt being looked at by WorkSafe was a keen volunteer who has aspirations of becoming a stunt woman.

Tori Giles, 13, was dressed in a fire-retardant suit and helmet before being put in a metal cage on the front of the monster truck that smashed through walls set alight at the Rangiora A&P Show over Labour Weekend.

WorkSafe New Zealand has confirmed it is making follow-up inquiries into the incident.
It has also been criticised on social media.

But Monster Madness owner operator Neil Jorgensen said the family are close friends and Miss Giles was keen to take part.

Every safety procedure was in place, he said, and she wasn't forced into anything and could pull out at any time.

Today, Miss Giles, a Christchurch schoolgirl and daughter of a former stuntman, confirmed to NZME News Service that she was a willing participant.

She has known Mr Jorgensen "since I was a baby" and when she asked she was very keen to take part.

"I know that he wouldn't put me in any type of danger," she said today.

"I want to be a stunt woman."

"I wasn't worried at all. I was certain we'd have all the right safety gear, which we did."

The stunt went to plan, she believed.

Her father Don Mazey watched on holding a fire extinguisher.

"It was obviously real exciting... an amazing experience," Miss Giles said.

"I'd love to do it again."

Mr Mazey, a 70-year-old father of 20, said the walls were set up before the wood was "cut virtually the whole way through".

It gave the impression of being "horrendous... except it's not".

"It's what the eye can see and what you want to believe," Mr Mazey said.

"She was in a steel cage. It was very well executed."

Both Mr Mazey and his daughter were disappointed by the critics.

Mr Mazey said their opinions are based without facts or inside knowledge.

Miss Giles said reading criticism has been "pretty hard".

"It's what I want to do," she said.

"As long as it makes me happy, and ... my parents are all okay with it, then that's the main thing isn't it?"