Wairarapa jetboater hailed as a hero

SAVIOUR: Coroner Garry Evans has recommended veteran Greytown jetboater Bruce Slater (pictured with son Andrew) receive official recognition for his bravery in rescuing the wife of an Oscar-winning sound editor after a boating tragedy on the Waiohine River on December 30 last year. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Coroner Garry Evans has hailed the bravery of a Greytown man who saved a woman after a boating tragedy claimed the life of her Oscar-winning husband on the Waiohine River last year.

Mr Evans found after an inquest that Michael Alexander Hopkins, 53, had drowned after being thrown along with wife Nicole Ryan and their friend Ray Beentjes from an inflatable pontoon that capsized on the river on December 30 last year.

Each of the rafters were capable swimmers and had been kitted out in wetsuits, protective footwear, life jackets and crash helmets as they set out for their trip about 11am that day. Tragedy struck as the raft neared a left-hand bend in the river, which was higher than usual, about a kilometre into their journey. The river was "seen to be flowing quite swiftly" at the time, Mr Evans said, and the boat had been pushed toward the riverbank before striking a submerged log and cliff-face and overturning. The occupants were thrown from the craft and became caught in a swirling eddy as they fought in vain to right the boat. The vessel had been on its maiden outing and had a narrow design that "would prove challenging" to stabilise in turbulent waters, Mr Evans said.

Ms Ryan was able to get to the cliff-face, where she clung terrified to vegetation and rocks. Mr Beentjes took hold of a paddle and, using the river current, was able to make it to the riverbank. Both lost sight of Mr Hopkins. Emergency services were alerted and a search and rescue operation was launched. The body of Mr Hopkins was plucked from the river just before 4pm by the Life Flight Trust's Westpac rescue helicopter.

Bad weather thwarted the helicopter rescue of Ms Ryan soon afterward and Greytown man Bruce Slater and his son Andrew had instead rushed by jetboat to where the raft had capsized.

Ms Ryan had been screaming "for a long time" on the stretch of riverbank to which she was clinging, Mr Evans said, and had watched the river "coming up really fast, about four feet to the ledge" on which she was perched. "There was nowhere else to go. The chopper came and they couldn't get me. Then the jetboat came and I got into that."

Mr Evans said Ms Ryan "in those few words describes how her life was saved through the intervention of Mr Slater and his son, Andrew".

"Mr Slater launched his jetboat into turbulent river waters at some risk in personal safety terms. Had he not done so, Ms Ryan may not have survived her ordeal."

Mr Slater deserved praise for his courage and skilful action, Mr Evans said. He recommended that Mr Slater's bravery be officially recognised. He also found there had been a more than 20 minute delay in launching a rescue helicopter to the scene of the tragedy despite repeated calls by South Wairarapa Police Sergeant Peter Rix, an experienced officer and qualified member of police search and rescue, and Sergeant Mia Wilton.

Mr Evans questioned why there had been no immediate response even though "it is unlikely the urgent deployment of a helicopter in this case would have saved Mr Hopkins' life".

Mr Evans recommended a review of the emergency management and response of Police Communications to ensure the reasonable directives of experienced front line police officers "in such cases as this" are swiftly executed.

Wellington Police Superintendent Sue Schwalger responded to the recommendation, according to Mr Evans' findings, and said police communications had been reviewed and from September 2 could deploy rescue craft without prior authorisation when life is at risk in or on water.