Investigators examine scene of fatal jetboat accident

Police and Maritime Safety Authority (MSA) investigators are today examining a section of a Canterbury river where a 53-year-old Christchurch jetboat driver was killed yesterday.

The man was thrown from his boat into shallow water on the Waimakariri River near Christchurch just after dropping off two friends on a fishing trip.

He died at the scene, possibly of head injuries. He was this afternoon named as Robert Sydney Burrows, 53, of Prebbleton.

One of the passengers saw the accident and notified the police about 5pm.

North Canterbury coroner David Crerar said last night's scene investigation had been called off at sunset, but police and MSA officials were at the scene again this morning.

He expected to release the victim's name later today after all next-of-kin had been informed.

- NZPA