News
December 28, 2017
About 20 people injure themselves at Auckland's waterfalls each summer.
And an experienced rescue paramedic said he doesn't want this number to climb any higher.
During the past three summers, 61 people suffered waterfall-related injuries including 12 lower back or spinal injuries, according to ACC claims.
Injury claims were made for feet, back or vertebrae in Auckland – totalling more than $30,000.
Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust paramedic Russell Clark said waterfall jumpers at some of Auckland's popular falls faced serious injuries from leaping into unknown waters.
"They're essentially an uncontrolled environment in the sense that the water's not clear, they don't know what's under the water and it's very hard to establish how deep the water is."
The waterfall could be slippery itself, or unstable when climbing, and hidden debris and turbulent water were serious risks, he said.
"There's a number of concerns that we paramedics have. One being the sheer height that sometimes people jump from.
"The greater the height, there is increased risk, particularly if you land wrong, you have potential to have neck and spinal injuries," he said.
The former St John Ambulance paramedic said most people were aware of the dangers but people have the desire to swim on a hot summer's day.
The 44-year-old has been to many call outs to waterfalls in both the Hunua and Waitākere Ranges.
Clark attended the fatal incident where an 18-year-old German tourist fell to his death at Piha's Kitekite Falls in April, 2016.
Earlier this year a teenager suffered serious injuries from falling 8 metres down the falls.
Just kilometres away another teen fell from Mokoroa Falls and was winched out by a rescue helicopter in February.
Clark has been called to Hunua Falls in south Auckland for people falling or jumping from the falls.
In 2008, park ranger Tony Oliver said 14 people had died from jumping from the top of the waterfall.
The last reported death was in March 2016 when a 17-year-old drowned.
Fatal incidents were part of Clark's job but not something he wanted to see.
"One of the things I love about my job is that we do have the ability to go into situations where we can make a difference.
"But no matter how much you educate people there's always going to be times where people will still put themselves at risk and unfortunately we have to go and help them."
Clark also warned people some swimming spots and waterfalls had limited cellphone coverage.
"Some of these swimming locations are quite remote, so if something does go wrong, you can often be a long way from help."
Clark's greatest advice was to take care.
"If you're not sure what you're jumping into, if you're uncertain what's under the water or how deep it is – don't do it. It's too risky."
