Skifield managers back coroner's call for safety helmets on slopes

American student Rachel Barrett Swett. Photo / Supplied

A coroner wants all skiers and snowboarders to wear helmets - and the idea has the backing of managers at the skifield where three people were fatally injured last winter.

Coroner Richard McElrea's recommendation came after his inquiry into the death of American student Rachel Barrett Swett after a fall at the Mt Hutt skifield.

Ms Swett, a psychology student at Columbia University in New York, died in Christchurch Hospital on June 23 last year from brain injuries.

The 21-year-old dropped off a track at Mt Hutt and slid nearly 130m before striking rock and catapulting into the air, landing on her head.

She and her three companions were not wearing helmets.

Ms Swett had skied from a young age in the United States.

Neurosurgeon Martin MacFarlane told the Coroner's Court in Ashburton that a properly fitted ski helmet would have increased her chances of survival.

He said up to 64 per cent of the skiers at Mt Hutt in the latter part of last year's season used helmets.

Mr McElrea said there was "extraordinary bad luck" in Ms Swett's accident, particularly the line of the fall being in the path of a rocky outcrop.

Sadly, it highlighted the importance of head protection to counter such unpredictable circumstances.

One of the other two people who died at Mr Hutt last year was not wearing a helmet, and in the third fatality, the person's helmet was dislodged in the fall.

Mr McElrea recommended that Mt Hutt owner-operator NZSki Ltd promote the use of ski helmets, and avoid using promotional material showing skiers or snowboarders in headgear other than protective helmets.

Ski area manager David Wilson said: "We already actively promote the wearing of helmets."

Mt Hutt urged this through its cafe, posters, and mentions on snow reports.

Mr Wilson said Mt Hutt would look seriously at all Mr McElrea's recommendations.

- Christchurch Star