Senior students went to the rescue of a year 9 rowing team when their skiff was hit by a powerboat driven by a coach in Otago Harbour this morning.
Three Otago Boys High School students were taken to hospital after the collision, one with serious injuries thought to be caused by the boat propeller.
Police southern shift Inspector Lindsay Turner said the coach was speaking to the rowers through a loudhailer when the collision occurred.
Police were notified at 9.36am and ambulance staff were first on the scene.
The collision occurred near where boats launch from Magnet St outside Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Otago Boys High School rector Clive Rennie said the skiff was full of year nine rowers returning to shore, and senior rowers went to assist.
He said the accident took place on calm water not far from shore.
Practice had almost finished and the novice crew, all year 9 students, were returning to shore when the incident happened.
"Most of the kids are fine. There were three that were initially put into hospital. One's been discharged, the other two are still in hospital, one for observation. The boy who took the biggest hit has some ongoing issues," he said.
"I spent the whole day making sure the boys in the crew have been well looked after and the other boys who saw what was happening, making sure they've had plenty of support.
"We're proud of the senior boys and the way they reacted. There was a good group of parents there."
Mr Rennie said Fred Strachan, the rowing coach, had returned to his home outside Dunedin.
"He's very upset about what happened and we're trying to make sure he gets plenty of support."
Reports Strachan fell out of the boat before it lost control were incorrect, Mr Rennie said.
"Fred said when he slipped he fell back over the motor. I'm not sure he would have had control at that point."
Mr Rennie says the school is likely to run its own investigation into what caused the accident.
Senior Sergeant Dave Scott of Dunedin Police said a 12 year old male had serious arm injuries caused by the propeller potentially, and was taken to Dunedin Hospital.
Mr Scott said police collected information for Worksafe NZ and Maritime NZ, he said.
"We documented the incident for other agencies but it's just not a police matter."
Otago Regional Council harbourmaster Jeff Donaldson said it was unclear which parts of the boat collided.
Mr Donaldson said the eight man skiff was "very low to the water" and was hit by an aluminium Stabicraft with a 40 horsepower outboard motor.
- by Michael Botur of APNZ
