Statement From NZONE Skydive
Incident at Lake Wakatipu, Queenstown, New Zealand

11 January 2018

NZONE Skydive Executive Director Anthony Ritter today expressed his deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of a foreign national, missing presumed drowned, following a skydiving incident in New Zealand yesterday.

Mr Ritter said a search and recovery operation was continuing in Lake Wakatipu in Queenstown for the missing man, aged in his twenties.

He said counselling and support services had been offered to jump zone staff and crew. Mr Ritter said the tandem master, who had completed over 3 thousand jumps, was recovering well with minor bruises after being released from hospital last night.

Mr Ritter said the company had launched an internal review to assess its processes and protocols at NZONE Skydive. He said skydiving operations at the site had been voluntarily suspended until further notice.

“On behalf of the company, I would like to pass on my deepest sympathies to the family of the missing man. We’re devastated by the incident.

“Our staff would like to acknowledge the heartfelt messages of support that they received from all over New Zealand. The close-knit community of Queenstown has rallied behind them during this difficult time.

“We are cooperating fully with investigating authorities and are providing statements and assistance where we can.

“Over the past 25 years, more than three hundred thousand passengers have jumped with NZONE Skydive – and this is the first incident of its kind at this site,” Mr Ritter said.

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