Skyline reviews luge track after visitor's incident

FILE

Luge tracks at Skyline Rotorua are to be reviewed after a recent accident left a man with a broken ankle.

The man was reported to have crashed into a wall at speed and was taken to Rotorua Hospital with a fractured ankle.

A witness to the accident told Radio New Zealand that staff failed to adequately comfort people shaken by seeing the incident "which left blood smeared on the concrete".

The witness, John Moffett, was with his wife and two children on a chairlift above the luge when he saw the incident. He said he thought the man had snapped his foot off.

Skyline Rotorua general manager Bruce Thomasen said the company had comprehensive health and safety systems, procedures and trained staff in place to deal with any potential incidents at the site.

He said those systems and procedures were constantly reviewed to ensure they were as robust as possible and the recent accident highlighted that response procedures were predominantly focused on the injured party.

"These have now been updated and expanded to ensure the needs of any witnesses - as well as any injured party - are met.

"Whilst the injured will still remain our most immediate priority, we also need to look after any concerns other parties may have as a result of an accident."

He said a review of the luge tracks was being undertaken.

"The tracks are reviewed constantly in light of a range of different factors - health and safety being one of them - and altered if required.

"This particular accident will obviously feed into that review."

Mr Thomasen said the company remained focused on constant improvement for visitors and staff alike and said a thorough review of the incident was another example of this practice.

"Like skiing, we cannot eliminate the risk completely as the luge rider has full control of their speed and direction.

"But we can do everything possible to minimise the risk of incident or injury which is something we strive to do every day.

"We have clear signage cautioning riders to slow down and a safety code of conduct in place. We also make changes to the track as required."

He said Skyline Rotorua had staff trained in first aid.