KEY POINTS:
A family fun outing at Maraetai beach turned to a day of horror yesterday for the family of a 10-year-old boy hit in the head by an out-of-control jetski.
Sean Cure, from Beachlands, was flown to Starship Children's Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Trust helicopter where he was
last night fighting for his life in intensive care.
A spokesman for the Auckland District Health Board said Sean was in a stable but critical condition this morning.
Police said Sean received "severe" head injuries from the 11am collision.
His family were at his bedside, trying to come to terms with how such a good day had gone so wrong.
His father Dennis was said to be "falling apart", while his mother Colleen last night returned to their home from the hospital to comfort his sister, who was also at the beach.
Mrs Cure told the Herald Sean had been at the beach with his father, sister and friends visiting from Australia. A friend was driving the jetski when the collision occurred.
The group had been using two 900cc jetskis before one hit the other, acting sergeant Todd Brooks from Howick police told the Herald.
The boy was a passenger on a stationary jetski, driven by an adult.
The second jetski, also piloted by an adult with a young boy on the back, approached the first and attempted to pull up alongside it.
But either through inexperience from the driver, or from a faulty jetski, the approaching vessel powered up and collided with the first, Mr Brooks said. It rose up over the side of the stationary vessel and struck the boy in the head.
Mrs Cure described her son as an "active" 10-year-old.
"He's a very active boy who does cross-country running, swimming, he's right into triathlon - he did the kids' triathlon two weeks ago. He liked the water, played rugby - everything a little 10-year-old boy would do."
The police maritime unit will begin an investigation into the accident today. Mr Brooks said police had seized and photographed both jetskis.
The conditions at the time of the accident were calm with a spot of rain, he said. Both jetskis were registered, and it appeared all appropriate safety gear was being worn by the drivers and passengers of the two vessels.
Sean's school principal, Brian Gower from Beachlands School, said Sean was popular and outgoing. He was well liked by his classmates and teachers, was easy to teach and enjoyed outdoor activities.
"He's an excellent student, and is doing very well here. He's an all-round nice guy," Mr Gower said.
Maraetai beachfront resident Jack McMahon told the Herald it was the first time he had seen a jetski accident at the beach.
Duty officer at the Auckland Harbourmaster office, Mick Courtnell, said jetskis were permitted to operate at Maraetai beach. However, no vessel was allowed to exceed five knots if travelling within 200m of shore, moorings or fixed structures, or within 50m of another vessel or a swimmer. That rule applied around most of the country, he said.
