The tour company and skipper at the helm of a serious boat crash in WA's Kimberley region have been fined a total of 27 thousand dollars. Dozens of passengers were injured in the accident which sparked an extensive investigation by Commonwealth authorities.
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00:00It's a natural phenomenon and a top adventure tourism destination, but in May 2022, the
00:08Horizontal Falls became the scene of a mass evacuation.
00:1225 passengers and two crew were on board a tourist boat travelling through a 7.5 metre
00:17gap when the vessel hit a rock wall.
00:20Some passengers were airlifted to Perth with serious injuries.
00:24At the helm was skipper Edward James Wisson, who was working for tour company Journey Beyond
00:28Adventures.
00:29An extensive investigation by authorities resulted in charges for Wisson and the company,
00:34with both pleading guilty to failing to ensure the safety of those on board.
00:39The court heard Wisson was an experienced skipper who had helped the company develop
00:43their safety management systems.
00:45In sentencing today, Magistrate Janelle Scott said Wisson's decision to go through the
00:50gap at the wrong angle was an unintended error and passengers paid a high price for that
00:55miscalculation.
00:57Several of the passengers listened to the sentencing via audio link and the court heard
01:01the profound impact the accident had on their lives.
01:05In a victim impact statement, one passenger detailed her extensive rehabilitation, saying
01:10she's had to learn to walk again.
01:13The court heard Journey Beyond Adventures has paid out more than $2 million to affected
01:17passengers.
01:19Wisson was fined $12,000, while the company will have to pay $15,000.
01:26For more information visit www.fema.gov