After Blenheim woman Gayleen McEwan was killed last week by a jet blast in the Caribbean, another woman who nearly suffered the same fate now says she wants this practice to stop.
Ms McEwan, 57, was with a group of fellow tourists and was killed after receiving head injuries when she was propelled backwards by a jet blast at Princess Juliana International Airport on the island of Saint Martin.
Last year Olivia Dowling was told this is also what tourists do when they go to Rarotonga.
There, at a handful of island airports, thrill-seeking foreigner's line up and hold on tight to get caught in the wash as jets pass over.
A jet blast flung Ms Dowling 10 metres in the air leaving her hospitalised and lucky to be alive.
"It was just the thing to do," she told The Project. "Yes I saw the danger sign but other people were doing it.
"It was just such a hype to do it. The locals, the tourists just do it. I looked it up and it looked a bit of fun."
Ms Dowling says she was left shaken after her own recovery she knew it wouldn't be the last time the activity caused an accident.
"I just knew that someone will be killed one day. I'm totally over it now, but it was horrible… It's like being thrown out of a car."
Newshub.
