Wedding accident inquiry finds too many people were on deck

A deck that collapsed at Te Mahia Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds last Saturday injuring 10 people failed because of overloading, the early stages of an OSH investigation have confirmed.

Occupational Safety and Health Nelson service manager Brian Stratford said inspections had shown the deck was sound enough to support regular use by the guests of two adjacent motel units.

But when 30 to 40 wedding guests crowded onto the corner of the deck for a photo, the load proved too much to bear and it collapsed, Mr Stratford said.

"If you take an average weight of 80 to 90kg, you would be looking at a load of between two and three tonnes. Also they had bunched up to allow the photo to be taken," he said.

The structure was 25 to 30 years old.

The mother of the bride got a broken ankle and a 75-year-old man from Taranaki suffered chest injuries in the collapse. Both were airlifted to Wellington Hospital by Westpac Rescue Helicopter

Eight other people suffered minor injuries.

Mr Stratford said the deck had been fenced off with a solid wall to make it inaccessible while the owner decided what to do next. It was far too early to say if a prosecution was likely.

- NZPA