Lack of Lifejackets Places Lives at Risk

Four young men who floated several km down the Kawarau River on two inflatable airbeds yesterday were lucky not to have added to the weekend’s drowning statistics, according to Queenstown Lakes District Harbourmaster Marty Black.

The four, believed to be from the United States, had no lifejackets, cellphone or any “Plan B”, Mr Black said.

He had encountered the four on Sunday afternoon above the confluence of the Arrow River, and strongly advised them to get off the river at that point. “They told me they’d get out, but then I got a call from the bungy operation saying these guys had just floated down under the bridge at Gibbston.”

The men, who are understood to be staying in Queenstown, would be receiving instant fines of $300 for not wearing lifejackets.

“Most people are being very sensible, but there always a few who seem to think the rules don’t apply to them,” Mr Black said.

Anyone in any kind of small boat under 6m in length, including inflatables, kayaks, canoes or paddleboards, must wear a lifejacket on all rivers and lakes in the Queenstown Lakes District.

Four people drowned over the weekend, including a woman in Cromwell and a man in Bluff Harbour, and there was another near-drowning in Cromwell.

ENDS

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