Editorial: Boaties must put safety first

If we don't become more safety conscious when we go out on the water, accidents like these two will continue happening, says Andrew Austin. Photo / Paul Taylor

For the second time in a few weeks a man has died after a boating accident off Mahia Peninsula.

It is startling how similar the two accidents were. In the latest tragedy yesterday, a 13-year-old girl swam to shore and walked 2km to raise the alarm after a boat capsized in Mahia, killing a man.

This followed the death last month of father and digger operator Malcolm Blake, 57. The 12-foot aluminium boat he was skippering capsized in rough seas off Mahia Peninsula. He was checking crayfish pots with three friends, a married couple and their teenage son. None of the boat occupants were wearing life jackets and they managed to swim to shore, where Mr Blake died. The teenage boy clambered up a 30-metre cliff face and hiked 2km to get help.

Details of yesterday's accident are still to be fully determined but with summer approaching and more people getting out on the water, boaties have to be careful when they go out.

The coastline along Mahia Peninsula is spectacular but quite rugged and obviously the message is not getting through.

In both cases, young children were involved in these disasters and it must have been really traumatic for them. Not only were they part of the accidents, they had to run, probably terrified, to seek help.

All people using boats this summer need to realise that the ocean needs to be taken seriously and life jackets need to be worn at all times.

If we don't become more safety conscious when we go out on the water, accidents like these two will continue happening.

Let's all work together to avoid any more boating tragedies.