'I had to let go' - officer tells of bid to save teen

Dion Latta was rescued from his waterfall ordeal, but
died in hospital the next day from hypothermia.

Story of heroic waterfall rescue effort most harrowing coroner has heard in 33 years.

A police officer has described heroic attempts to save a 15-year-old schoolboy trapped upside down in a waterfall, saying he had to release the teenager's hand because the waterflow was so powerful.

Evidence into the death of Dion Latta, 15, was described by coroner David Crerar yesterday as the most harrowing he had read in 33 years.

Rescuers battled for hours to free Dion from the waterfall in the Motatapu Gorge, near Wanaka in the South Island this year - and Mr Crerar questioned yesterday whether anything more could have been done.

"I've asked that question many times ... I've been told no," Senior Constable Michael Johnston said.

Mr Johnston described repeated attempts to reach Dion's foot, saying that at one stage he was pushed over the face of the rock next to the waterfall by the strong current and into the pool.

"Dion put his hand out the side of the waterfall towards me ... I tried pulling Dion to the side of the waterfall to reduce the hydraulic pressure on him and hopefully free him. I was unable to move Dion even slightly.


"Dion was pulling on my hand which was using up his energy, and in turn, pulling his head out into the flow of the waterfall ... Knowing that we could not free him from this position, I reluctantly let go of his hand."

Dion was trapped for about three hours and amputation of his leg was considered.

He was eventually freed and airlifted to Dunedin Hospital but died the next day. Pathologist Dr Martha Nicholson said his death was due to immersion hypothermia.

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