12 Mar 2009

Grieving father accuses Fiji resorts of failing to protect tourists

7:33 am on 12 March 2009

The father of a woman hit and killed by a boat at a Fiji resort says resort owners there fail to protect tourists.

Rebecca Stockwell of Blenheim was snorkelling with her husband on her honeymoon when she was hit by the boat off Matamanoa Island in November 2007.

The man driving the boat, Tomasi Natutuvuli Tovou, pleaded guilty on Wedesday in the High Court in Suva to manslaughter.

Mrs Stockwell's father, Mark Crawley, says basic safety measures, such as putting out buoys and marking off swimming and snorkelling areas, are ignored in many Fijian resorts.

Mr Crawley says he understands the issue will be addressed by a New Zealand coroner after Tovou has been sentenced on Thursday.