Coroner supports criticism of unguarded ski-field pylons

Press, 27 November 1982, Page 4

Coroner supports criticism of unguarded ski-field pylons

Timaru reporter Commenting on the protection of one pylon at the Lake Ohau ski-field on account of previous accidents. Constable P. M. Hannon, of Twizel, told the Timaru District Coroner's Court yesterday that he failed to see the wisdom in not having treated the other pylons in the same way. He was giving evidence into’the death of Tania Jane Whitelock, aged 17, a schoolgirl, of Wadestown. who was killed when she fell from a T-bar and slid more than 53 metres before striking a supporting pylon. The coroner, Mr E. G. Bradley, determined in line with medical evidence by the pathologist at the Timaru Hospital, Dr L. A. Faigan, that Miss Whitelock died at Lake Ohau on September 6. 1982, from a fracture of the cervical spine when she fell, from the ski tow and slid into a pylon. The Coroner said that he agreed with Constable Hannon!s comments about the

pylons and the lack of suitable covering. “I hope the ski club is taking the necessary steps to remedy that situation," the Coroner said. Constable Hannon said that he visited the site of the fall. The track beneath the ski tow was icy and compact due to its continual use throughout the day. The snow was quite soft on either side of the tow track. The witness described the operation of the T-bar. The distance between each T-bar was 26.64 metres, so in falling from her bar and knocking two other persons off theirs before hitting one of the steel pylons supporting the wires, she would have had to travel in excess of 53.28 m. Further down the tow closer to the loading point, one pylon was surrounded by black polythene. Witness said that he was informed that there was a matress inside the polythene in order to prevent people who might fall from the tow injuring themselves. He was further informed that this particular pylon was pro-

tected in this manner be ; cause of -earlier accidents. Constable Hannon then made his observation concerning the remaining pylons. In earlier evidence, Nigel Patrick Dickson, a medical practitioner at Dunedin Hospital, said that he attended a casualty just below pylon five on the T-bar lift. Miss Whitelock was receiving car-dio-pulmonary resuscitation from three ski patrol members. He continued with cardiac massage but there was no response and life was declared extinct. Fay Coxon. of Christchurch. was ski-ing with a friend. Between the fifth and sixth pylons she looked up to see a person in dark clothing sliding down the track of the tow towards her. “She was spinning around and I tried to throw myself off the T-bar out of her way. I do not know if she hit me. I was knocked out. When I came to, I remember hearing somebody call out. She was out of my sight by this time.” said the witness. Gregory Edward Smith,

aged 17. a student, Khandallah. of Wellington, said that he and the deceased were both ski-ing. She had been ski-ing for four seasons and was a very competent skier. They took the" T-bar up to the top field. It was the second time that she had been on the T-bar that day. the witness said. “Tania was on the same bar as I was. sitting on my left. As we were going up our bindings got caught, her right boot with my left. I told her not to move until we got to the top but she tried to get it loose and lost her balance." said the witness. “She fell from the T-bar and slid on the icy track of the tow sliding downwards, and I am told she hit a pylon, but I did not see her do so," said the witness. He said that he stayed on the Tbar and rode it to the top so he did not see Tania again until he skied down- and ran to where he thought she was, but she had been taken down to the hut at the bottom where he saw her. witness said.