Many Ignorant Of Laws On Drink-boating, Says Coroner

The Age

Saturday November 4, 1995

DAVID ADAMS

A coroner investigating the 1994 drowning of a 17-year-old youth at Lake Eildon has suggested the need for an advertising campaign aimed at educating people about the dangers of combining alcohol and boating.

The coroner, Ms Jacinta Heffey, said in the Melbourne Coroner's Court that she would be surprised if many people knew it was an offence to exceed a blood-alcohol level of .05 per cent while operating any boat.

Under the Marine Act, the offence of exceeding .05 while operating a boat is punishable by fines or imprisonment similar to those given for drink-driving offences.

Ms Heffey also suggested that legislators consider the creation of an offence aimed at prohibiting excessive consumption of alcohol by any person occupying small leisure craft on water.

Ms Heffey found that Trent Harris apparently drowned after a two-man canoe capsized in Lake Eildon, near Bonnie Doon, on 8 April last year. Mr Harris and a friend, Christopher O'Shea, were about two kilometres offshore when the canoe flipped over, some time after 6 pm. Mr O'Shea was able to swim to the shore, leaving Mr Harris with the boat. Mr Harris's body was never found.

The inquest was told that both youths, who had been on a camping trip with friends, had been drinking beer and bourbon whiskey during the afternoon, although no amounts were specified.

Ms Heffey said there had been six other fatalities on Victoria's waterways since February last year involving an excessive consumption of alcohol.

``There can be no doubt that excessive consumption of intoxicating liquor can lead not only to behavior that places the boat user and other users in jeopardy in terms of risk-taking and lack of judgment, but it also compromises the person's ability to respond appropriately," she said.

There are about 125,000 powerboats operating in Victorian waters, and about 20,000 other craft.

© 1995 The Age

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