Party Marooned After Jet Boat Hit Rock

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30038, 24 January 1963, Page 12

Party Marooned After Jet Boat Hit Rock

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 23 A jet boat carrying a man and six children sank in Lake Rotorua tonight after hitting a rock while attempting to rescue two small boys marooned on Mokoia Island. All seven spent several hours on the Island. cold and wet, before bring picked up by a _ boat carrying police from Rotorua. Two ot the party, Mark Winstone and Robert Kirkbride both aged 14. had gone sailing on the lake in a yacht earlier in the day About 3.30 pm. the tiller broke, but the boys were able to make their way ashore to the island. A local boatman. Mr J Davy, called at the island during mi afternoon trip and offered to tow the boys the three miles and a half back to Rotorua.

The boys accepted the offer, but seeing Mark’s father. Mr A. coming toward

the island in his 18-foot jet boat, with four children, he said Mr Winstone would be able to take them back The jet boat picked up the boys and was travelling around the western side of the island when it hit an uncharted rock about 500 yards from tihe shore. In seconds water was up to the dashboard and the boat sank quickly. AH seven were able to make their way ashore. They erected a sail to attract attention and as darkness fell lit a fire in a direct line with Mr Winstone's bach at Holdens Bay. At 8.50 p m searchers found tl group cold and wet trying to cook some potatoes left by earlier visitors Mr Davy said tonight that about 10 boats had struck rocks in the lake store Christmas that he knew ot This was the fourth boat in that time to hit the seme rode, j