No prosecution for bungy jump company after woman's fall

A Rotorua bungy jump operator will not be prosecuted after a woman fell more than 8m into a shallow stream during a bungy jump.

Jamie Shaw was coming to the end of a tandem bungy in May when her foot began to slip out of the binding around her ankle.

She tried to hold on to a staff member who was her bungy partner but fell between 8-10m into Ngongotaha Stream.

She suffered bruising to her legs and her right side.

After a seven-month investigation Occupational Safety and Health has decided against prosecuting Bungy Rotorua Ltd.

The department's regional manager, Murray Thompson, said while it was not entirely sure what caused Ms Shaw's foot to slip, some padding on the ankle straps was a contributing factor.

The padding is made of the same material that is used for wetsuits and doesn't have the same grip as ankle bindings.

The department decided not to prosecute the company because the operator had used the padding in good faith to reduce discomfort for bungy jumpers.

However, the department has told the company to remove the padding, understood to have been used for about three months.

All Bungy Rotorua jumpers will now have to use full body harnesses which will be a backup safety measure if the ankle straps fail. Full body harnesses are used by other bungy operators in New Zealand -- but not all the time.

OSH will recommend that body harnesses become part of the bungy operators' code of practice, Mr Thompson said.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)