Rotorua council officials shocked by girl's mud pool burns

Rotorua District Council (RDC) officials have expressed shock and sadness at news of a local 12 year old girl falling into a hot mud pool and suffering burns in Rotorua yesterday.

RDC parks & recreation manager Garry Page said it was a dreadful accident and he could only imagine what the girl and her family would be going through right now.

Mr Page said the incident happened alongside the Puarenga Stream off Froude Street at Whakarewarewa where youngsters often play and swim. He said the geothermal hazards were well known to people in the area.

“We understand the girl was playing with other children when she lost her footing and fell into the mud pool. Fortunately she was immediately removed and then submerged into cool water in the adjacent Puarenga Stream, otherwise her injuries may have been even more serious. Ambulance and police were called and they attended the site soon after the accident was reported.

“We’ve examined the area today and will be investigating whether there is anything we can do to make it safer in the future. Unfortunately this mud pool is one of thousands of geothermal hot spots that can be found right across Rotorua district and obviously it’s simply not possible to fence off every single potential hazard.

“It’s a location well known to local residents living in the Whakarewarewa area and also frequented by some out-of-town visitors. We’re placing more warning signs in the vicinity advising people to keep to formed tracks, however we have to acknowledge that signage and fencing tends to have limited effect on active and determined youngsters.”

Mr Page said he hoped the young girl would be able to recover from her injuries over time and said the thoughts of everyone at the council were with her and her family. He had been told this afternoon that her condition in Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital burns unit was stable.