Crash victim refunds

Press, 2 December 1987, Page 1

Crash victim refunds

Some of the Australian tourists in last Wednesday’s Mount Cook bus smash will receive part refunds from the Tourist and Publicity Department. a » They include five of the ..47 passengers who decided to return home early and the 10 still in hospital with injuries. t * ■ They will have the ... total “ground content” of their tour cost refunded. This represents the charges for accommodation,' meals, and transportation within New Zealand.

Those passengers who have rejoined the tour after having their injuries treated will also get some of their money back. v Although all of the passengers carried their own travel insurance, the Accident Compensation Corporation will meet the medical and hospital costs of the* 27 injured in the crash. The corporation will also contribute to the funeral costs of the woman who was killed.

Mr Doug Burton, business manager of the Tourist and Publicity Department in Wellington, said yesterday that the department considered it appropriate that some refunds be given.. • The tour, promoted by a'Perth radio station, was arranged by the department, which in turn chartered the bj;s from the Mount Cook Group.

The visitors were in the third day of their tour when the tragedy occurred. Mr Burton praised the elderly travellers for the way in which they coped with the accident. “They were brilliant,” he said. “They are a magnificent pack of people. We have done everything possible to help them.” Nine relatives and friends of those injured have taken up the Mount Cook company’s offer to fly them free from Perth to New Zealand.

A company spokesman, Mr Ted Beckett, said Mount Cook had paid for the people’s travel and accommodation.

Some could have a long stay. A Timaru hospital spokesman said that three or four of the 15 passengers still in the hospital could be there be another week or longer before they were fit to travel.,

. Only one passenger, Mr V. Bruna, remains in intensive care. Mr Bruna suffered multiple fractures in the crash and his condition was described yesterday as stable.

Most of the passengers who have been discharged will fly from Christchurch for Perth today. Another direct flight will leave on Sunday.