Date: Monday, 2 December 2013

Subject: Kayaking Guide Praised for Safety Procedures

Queenstown Harbourmaster Marty Black is praising a Glenorchy kayaking guide, whose good safety systems averted a potentially serious situation on Lake Wakatipu on Friday.

The guide and eight tourists were caught out by a change in the weather and as the wind rose suddenly, the group became dispersed, with some needing assistance. The guide used his radio to call on Dart River Jet for help, and all nine kayakers were rescued within minutes of the call being received.

Mr Black said the guide had checked the weather forecast around 6am and noted the warning for strong winds later in the day. He calculated the group had time to make the scheduled trip and return before the weather changed, and when they set out the lake was flat calm. A strong end developed suddenly, and he activated his prearranged back-up plan with the jet boat company.

"The lesson is that conditions on our southern lakes can change suddenly, and the forecast is only a guide to what may happen," Mr Black said. "Because every person was wearing a properly fitting life jacket and there was a good emergency plan in place, this situation ended well."

Mr Black said anyone kayaking on the southern lakes should take common sense precautions. "First, wear a properly fitting life jacket all the time. Take someone experienced along with you. Make sure you have proper safety equipment on board - a cellphone in a watertight plastic bag is a minimum, if not a radio; a baler, flares and warm clothes; and tell someone where you are going and what time you plan to return. And if you're in any doubt about the conditions, don't go – there's always another day.

"These simple precautions save lives," Mr Black said.

ENDS

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