Police seeking witnesses to Benmore boating incident

Police in Oamaru investigating the circumstances that led to a man being paralysed after an accident on the Ohau C boat ramp on Lake Benmore have released a photograph of a woman who may be able to help with their inquiries.

A 73-year-old man from Timaru suffered a broken neck following an incident involving two vehicles with boat trailers on the boat ramp on December 28.

Senior Constable Bruce Dow, of Oamaru, said ''at this stage'' police had still not been able to corroborate conflicting witness statements as to what happened.

Sen Const. Dow said he believe the woman in the picture and her husband may have been '' in close proximity'' to the incident when it occurred, and it was hoped they could assist inquiries.

During the incident, the man became tangled in a rope and was flung into the side of a trailer.

The man remained in intensive care at Christchurch Hospital and would be tetraplegic for the rest of his life, Sen Const Dow said.