A North Otago man who lost his life after a jetboat crash near Haast last year died from a heart attack during emergency surgery, the coroner has ruled.
Roualeyn MacDonald Munro died at Grey Base Hospital on March 8, 2014, during emergency surgery for "high energy impact injuries" suffered after a jetboat he was travelling in crashed into a rock on the Waiatoto River, south of Haast, the day before.
Coroner David Crerar found Mr Munro - from Otematata in North Otago - was a passenger in a jetboat driven by his associate, Michael Thomas, when it overturned after hitting a rock. Everyone on board was thrown into the water.
Mr Munro was found shortly after, floating face down in the water, apparently unconscious. He was rescued from the water and taken to shore. He was taken by helicopter to Grey Base Hospital.
Mr Crerar said a doctor's report showed Mr Munro had suffered rib, chest, pelvis and shoulder fractures, and bruising to his organs.
Doctors inserted a chest drain, breathing tube and central blood line. Mr Munro developed a faster than normal heart rhythm and his blood pressure dropped. Despite medical staff carrying out resuscitation and giving him adrenaline, he was pronounced dead at 9am on March 8.
A report from Mr Munro's GP said he was "morbidly obese" and was suffering from heart disease. He had previously suffered a heart attack and was in mild kidney failure.
Evidence from Queenstown Lakes harbourmaster Marty Black said Mr Thomas had 10 years of jetboating experience but he had driven Mr Munro's jetboat only three times.
"It appears he was unsure of the jetboat's handling and performance. This, in my opinion, was a direct cause of the accident."
A coroner-authorised autopsy report from pathologist Dr Martin Sage said the heart attack was "predominantly attributed" to the "severe ischaemic heart disease" Mr Munro was suffering from.
Mr Crerar said he accepted the crash was caused by "driver error".
"The decision to allow Michael Thomas to drive the boat, with which he was relatively unfamiliar, downstream, this being acknowledged by all as being more difficult than riving a jetboat upstream, was the direct cause of the crash, injuries and death."
Mr Crerar also said an individual with "better cardiac health and greater reserves may have been able to survive the injuries which were received by Mr Munro".
The coroner said there was "no evidence" that any of the medical treatment given to Mr Munro was below the "best practice standard".
