Powerboat driver shocked by death

An Invercargill man whose close friend has died in Dunedin Hospital three days after the powerboat they were racing in crashed on Lake Waihola, says she had been rapt to finally crew in a race.

Hairdresser Lyn Burnett (49), of Invercargill, died yesterday morning after being in an induced coma for several days.

She was the co-driver of a powerboat driven by Garry Sexton (47) that broached during a marathon race at Lake Waihola on Sunday, throwing the pair into the lake.

A rescue boat was on the scene within 30 seconds and a paramedic on another boat tended to the pair.

The death of Ms Burnett, who was conscious and talking before she was put in the ambulance, came as a shock to Mr Sexton and the power-boating community and devastated the Sexton and Burnett families.

Mr Sexton said he and his wife were "very close" friends of Ms Burnett.

The mother-of-three was a lovely, bouncy, happy person who would drop everything to help family and friends, he said.

Speaking yesterday from his home, where he is nursing a cracked rib and shoulder blade, Mr Sexton said his wife and Ms Burnett had been very excited about a planned trip to Egypt next year for Ms Burnett's 50th birthday.

Sunday's race was the first time his friend had crewed in a race, but it was something she had always wanted to do.

"And when she got the opportunity when someone couldn't crew on Sunday, she was just so excited. She was texting everybody ... she was rapt." It was a calm day, he had checked his boat from top to bottom before it went in the water and, conscious this was Ms Burnett's first time crewing, was being cautious on corners and turning.

The broach seemed to come out of nowhere, he said.

"It was instantaneous. There was no warning whatsoever. It was like `what?' and I was in the water.

"I don't remember anything happening, as such. Lyn, she was trying to swim. I was just dazed," Mr Sexton said.

Her death had been "totally" unexpected.

"It's just terrible news. It's a big shock to everyone; a huge shock."

Her family were understandably devastated, but were "fantastic, supportive" people who would all help each other, as they always had in times of trouble.

He was grateful they had asked him to travel to Dunedin on Tuesday night to see Ms Burnett before she died.

"It's now for me to do what I can for Lyn's family."

The cause of the accident would be determined by the authorities, he said.

How long that took did not matter.

"It makes no difference whether it takes a day or a month, because it can't bring Lyn back."

He did not think he would drive a powerboat again: "I think I'm afraid of the speed."

New Zealand Boat Commission president Ian Spencer, of Mosgiel, said injuries in marathon racing were rare and there had not been a death in the 20 years he had been involved.

The commission had an idea about what caused the crash, but would not comment until Maritime NZ had completed its investigation.

Maritime NZ spokesman Ross Henderson said the agency was still gathering information.

"We will then carefully review that information before making any formal decision about possible next steps. I'm unsure at this stage how long that may take, but we will be aiming to complete this as quickly as possible."

Ms Burnett's death has been referred to the coroner.