Boat trip turns into painful hospital sojourn

BY KERI MOLLOY

An accident on an Explore NZ boat in the Bay of Islands has cut an English couple's New Zealand holiday short, leaving the woman with a seriously injured foot.

Maritime New Zealand is investigating the incident, which happened on January 4.

Visitors Christine and Andrew Clarke and two friends decided to go on a Dolphin Discovery cruise that day.

"One of the boat crew from Explore NZ overheard us discussing whether we should go, she encouraged us, saying it would be a trip not to miss," says Mrs Clarke.

They saw dolphins but conditions deteriorated, she says.

The boat circled the Hole in the Rock and on the return trip hit rough water.

"It was like being on a big dipper, making your stomach turn. My husband told me to not let go and to bend with the waves, my feet at this point had left the deck.

"This went on for a while until it became so violent, that I was being thrown around like a rag doll and could not let go of the rail or keep my feet on the deck or even hold on to my husband.

"All I can then remember is flying in the air and screaming several times and landing really heavily on the deck, my husband did not let go to help because he was holding on, fighting for his life.

"At this point both of us thought we were going to die."

Mrs Clarke was transferred to a sister ship and taken to Paihia where a waiting ambulance took her to Bay of Islands hospital.

She returned to the United Kingdom for surgery to pin and wire bones in the foot.

The operation went well, she says, but she will be in a plaster for 12 weeks.

Mrs Clarke fears her injury will be life changing.

She has been told she will not be able to play her sport of badminton again, she can expect pain for up to 18 months and the possibility of long-term effects such as osteoarthritis.

"Not only did I lose my and my husband's and my dear friends' holiday of a lifetime - that we saved for two years for - but my future doesn't look too bright."

Paul Vincent, who was with the Clarkes during the trip questioned the decision whether or not to go out to open sea in the conditions.

Explore NZ Bay of Islands general manager Jim Whitehorn declined to comment while the investigation is under way.

Maritime NZ said last week inquiries were still at a preliminary stage.

- © Fairfax NZ News