Some good may come of a tragedy if measures are introduced making it easier for police to quickly identify the exact location of emergencies, says a Roxburgh woman whose son drowned a year ago.
Sue and Jeff Wilson's son Paul William Wilson (28) died on February 2, after being swept away in the flooded Talla Burn while taking water samples near Beaumont.
He was near the new Talla Burn power station, by the Beaumont-Millers Flat road, also known as the Millennium Track.
When they gave evidence at the inquest hearing, Mr and Mrs Wilson aired their concern the Millennium Track did not appear on any maps. Although Mr Wilson mentioned the track and the Talla Burn when he made a 111 call to report his son missing, there seemed to be some initial confusion experienced by the police communications call-taker in identifying where the emergency was taking place.
The finding of Otago-Southland regional coroner David Crerar into the death of Paul Wilson was made public yesterday. He said despite the family's concerns about the way the police responded to the call and the subsequent search for their missing son, the police were not to blame for Paul Wilson's death.
Jeff Wilson contacted police to say his son was missing, almost three hours after Paul went to take water samples.
The Millennium Track, the Talla Burn power station and the Talla Burn were not on police communications maps, Mr Crerar said. The Millennium Track was the local name for the road and had been used for at least 11 years.
"How a description in common use gets to be included in police communication maps is unknown to me, but I ask that the Commissioner of Police, to whom a copy of this finding is being sent, address this issue."
If the power station had a "rapid number", like the numbering system for rural properties, it would have assisted both the police communications call-taker and Mr Wilson, who was making the 111 call.
Mr Crerar is also sending a copy of his inquest finding to Local Government New Zealand.
"A solution to the problem might be as simple as ensuring that a rapid number is ascribed to any building for which a building permit is issued by a local authority."
Asked by the Otago Daily Times if she had any comment on the coroner's findings, Mrs Wilson said she hoped those suggestions by the coroner would be acted upon.
"I'm pleased he's mentioned those things and if that happens, then maybe some good will come out of this. It's too late for us, but it might might make a difference in the future for someone else," she said.
Mr Crerar said, despite the initial confusion, police acted promptly in responding to the emergency.
