Baby run over in Whangamata driveway now stable

A 1-year-old boy was airlifted to Waikato Hospital after being run over by a reversing car in Whangamata. Photo / Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter

A 1-year-old boy who was airlifted to Waikato Hospital after being run over by a reversing car in Whangamata this morning is now in a stable condition.

The boy is the son of a German couple who are staying at a property on Beverley Tce.

Whangamata Sergeant Lara Beisly said the incident took place about 9.15am when another German tourist, the driver of the car, was heading off for a surf.

The boy had gone out to play while his parents, who are travelling New Zealand by bicycle, were having breakfast.

A Waikato District Health Board spokeswoman said the boy was now in a stable condition and recovering in a ward. Photo / Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter

"Luckily, the wheels didn't go over him or he would not have survived," Beisly said.

An Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter spokesman confirmed they were called to an incident at 9.10am where a baby had suffered head injuries and was in a serious condition.

A local GP brought the child to the helipad in an ambulance, Intensive Care paramedic Chris Deacon said.

"The car had clearly hit the child at low speed, but it hadn't run over the child per se."

The boy's mother flew with him to Waikato Hospital while the father and a 3-year-old child were driven to the hospital.

A Waikato District Health Board spokeswoman said the boy was now in a stable condition and recovering in a ward.

"Due to the mechanism of injury there was a high possibility that he could have been seriously injured," Deacon said. "But as is transpires his injuries have been of a moderate nature and he should go on to make a good recovery.

"It was certainly stressful for the family, who are tourists."

Beisly said the driver of the car who backed over the toddler was receiving counselling from Victim Support.