A mother's tour pilot's tears prompt admission

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX South Island correspondent

Eleni Zeri's hang-gliding experience was short and fatal.

From the time she told her tandem pilot she could no longer hold on, to the moment she slipped silently from his grasp, less than a minute passed.

Canadian Steve Parson tried desperately to hold on to his passenger, wrapping his legs tightly around her. But the lack of a crucial mechanism to connect the pair - an oversight in his pre-flight safety check - meant his attempts were in vain.

The 23-year Greek student plunged about 200m to the Queenstown hillside below.

Her silent fall was watched in horror by the friends she had made on her Contiki tour of New Zealand.

Eirini Zeri lost her only child that day. This week she sat in the High Court at Invercargill and heard how the tragedy unfolded, watching Eleni's friends give tearful evidence from London and the United States via video link.

Her presence was the catalyst for Parson to change his plea.

On Thursday, the 53-year-old admitted a charge of manslaughter. He was yesterday sentenced to 350 hours' community service and ordered to pay $10,000 reparation.

During the court case both sides acknowledged the tragic circumstances of the incident. Mrs Zeri lost her daughter; Parson - deeply traumatised - would lose his livelihood.

In court he addressed the grieving mother, saying: "I need you to know I also have a hole in my heart. Eleni was very brave. I'm so very, very sorry."

But it was in a private meeting arranged after sentencing that the pair were able to share their grief.

Crown prosecutor Alistair Garland said Mrs Zeri was "naturally still very sad, truly devastated".

"But I think that in some small way this meeting helped her come to terms with it. Particularly the acceptance of responsibility on the part of Mr Parson, and knowing that he is genuinely remorseful."

Mrs Zeri will return to Greece this week but Parson must stay in New Zealand for at least six months to complete his sentence.

At the time of the accident he was regarded as the fifth or sixth most-experienced tandem hang-gliding pilot in New Zealand.

He worked for Queenstown company Sky Trek.

Parson did not speak to the media yesterday but the Herald understands he plans to return to hang-gliding once he is back in Canada.

He has more than a decade of flying experience and has his own business - Airdreams Hang-gliding - in Chemainus on Vancouver Island.

For the three summers before the Eleni Zeri's death last March, Parson had travelled to New Zealand to work the Canadian off-season.

He was booked to return home a week after the accident.


Until then he had a blemish-free record and friends in the business - on both sides of the world - described him as "methodical", "cautious" and "safe".

Close friend Martin Nowoselski will be ready to support Parson on his return to Vancouver Island.

Mr Nowoselski sold Parson one of his first hang-gliders 11 years ago.

"From the start I think he flew it better than I ever did. Steve had talent and perseverance ... a desire to be safe and one of the better pilots around."

Mr Nowoselski said Parson progressed quickly in the sport.

"He was always questioning and looking to senior pilots for advice and guidance. He didn't take huge risks."

When Parson returned from his first season down south "I was blown away by his flying savvy and business acumen. Around here a tandem pilot may do a couple dozen flights in a year. Steve did about 500 in New Zealand."

The accident was tragic for all.

"Steve is my friend. He had a malfunction that day and Eleni died. I am looking forward to the day he comes home so we can sit on our mountain and laugh and cry.

"From all I have read and heard, I believe Eleni would have been one of us."