Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Helmets recommended on ski fields

Updated at 5:56 pm on 24 September 2011

A coroner has recommended skiers and snowboarders should wear helmets and ski fields should promote their use following inquests into two accidental deaths on Mount Hutt.

Coroner Richard McElrea found Rachel Swett, 21, a student from the United States and Nello Donaggio, 30, an account manager from Christchurch, died from brain injuries after both slipped on ice and slid more than 100 metres into rocks in separate incidents on Mt Hutt ski field last year.

Mr McElrea says they could have survived if they were wearing ski helmets.

While he recommends the use of ski helmets, he is not calling for them to be mandatory.

Mr McElrea also recommended ski fields review their warnings about icy conditions.

NZ-SKI chief executive James Coddington, says about 70% of his customers wear helmets.

Mr Coddington says its compulsory for his employees to wear helmets and the company promotes them to customers through signs on the ski fields and in snow reports.

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