Gondola escapade ‘foolish’

Press, 27 April 1988, Page 8

Gondola escapade ‘foolish’

PA Invercargill Brent Thompson says he is I "not into; risky things generally." in spite of the escapade in which he fell .10 metres [from a Queenstown gondola car at the week-end. ’

Speaking from his Lake [County Hospital bed. where he is nursing a brokrin pelvis, a gashed thumb i and cut fingers, he agfeed that his attempt lit high-wine acrobatics was "fioolisp "

Mr Thompson, aged 19. climbed but) a [gondola car window tin to its roof about 2 a.mi on Sunday after a meal [with! friends at the Skyline [Restaurant. [ . i- :

He would [ not! explain what he was [trying to do. or why, tout [said; he was holding the cable! when ! it ran into [I rollers i on the

sixth pylon, causing him to let go and fall. Mr Thompson, who has been skydiving, said falling from the gondola felt exactly the same, except he was not expecting it and did not have time to be scared.

"It was quite a long fall." he said. "I watched the gondola getting smaller. frame byframe." ; Luckily!, he landed in a patch of tussock rather than on [a rock outcrop and managed to pull himself tp a. flatter piece of ground. Gondola staff said he could have been killed had he fallen from any other pylon, all of which are higher. Mr Thompson had to wait two hours before rescuers.-working by torchlight, reached him.

“The pain and cold took over, so there was nothing really to think about but 1 was grateful that someone turned up." he said.

"I was coid and m agonv."

However, he had to wait in the dark on the hillside for another two hours for dawn and a helicopter rescue.

Skyline Enterprise's chairman, Mr Barry Thomas, said he was furious about "the appalling waste of time and effort" for management, police, medical and rescue services caused by “senseless idiots.”

A remorseful Mr; [ Thompson said he [ thought Mr Thomas's - comments were fair from

his point of view. [ "1 apologise to him [for any inconvenience and to the police," he i said.! "I can see that I will probably be taken -to court and there could be a charge for the helicopter. As they did pluck me [out. they deserve something in return." I

Mr Thomas said [ he was pleased Mr Thompson was prepared! to make a public apology. Senior-Sergeant Peter Collins said a decision on prosecution would [ be made after further inquiries. A decision [ was not expected until late in the week. I

In the meantime) Mr Thompson will havp to lie in bed for four or five weeks to keep pressure off his pelvis. i.