Dodges Ferry man dies on ski

A MARINE and Safety Tasmania has warned personal water craft users not to ride in darkness after a Dodges Ferry man died in a jetski accident at Marion Bay over the weekend.

MARINE and Safety Tasmania has warned personal water craft users not to ride in darkness after a Dodges Ferry man died in a jetski accident at Marion Bay over the weekend.

Tasmania Police were notified about 1am Sunday that a 32-year-old man had failed to return from a jetski ride around Marion Bay.

Police said his friends had started a search for the man and had found the jetski washed up on rocks near their campsite at Little Chinaman’s Bay, south of Marion Bay.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter and marine police joined the search and at 1.30am the man was located in the water by friends, but could not be revived.

Police said investigations indicated the man had left the campsite to transport two friends to Marion Bay and may have collided with a navigation beacon on the journey back to the campsite. Police are investigating if alcohol was a factor.

MAST recreational boating manager Peter Hopkins said under their by-laws, jet ski users were not to ride from sunset to sunrise.

There are navigation markers inside Blackman Bay, to the south of Marion Bay, as well as one just outside into Marion Bay. Mr Hopkins said some of the markers had lights while others didn’t but added you could see them if you were vigilant.

On the MAST website it also states that all motorised vessels cannot exceed a speed of 5 knots when within 60m of the shore, a wharf, jetty or another boat.

Jetskitas vice president Matt Dowling said it was the second jet ski-related death this year following one at the Trevallyn Dam near Launceston in January.

“We don’t know the full story and we don’t want to get into any speculation about what he was doing,” Mr Dowling said.

“They [jet skiers] are not meant to be riding at night.”

Mr Hopkins said since 2010, people had to gain a PWC endorsement after acquiring their motorboat licence to be able to ride jet skis. So far there have been 6500 endorsements.

Mr Dowling said Jetskitas and MAST had plans to run more jet ski education nights in the future and urged any rider to get involved with the club.

“We encourage people if they are not sure about anything, please don’t hesitate to contact us,” he said.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.