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As badly injured Brett Robinson lay pinned behind the wheel of his mangled car his only concern was for his two young sons, one of whom was hanging from a seatbelt in the upturned wreckage.
The 42-year-old Kingseat man and sons Jayden, 12, and Callum, 9, were returning home from soccer practice when a Nissan hit their Fiat Uno head-on in Karaka last Tuesday night.
The driver of the Nissan kept going and seconds later smashed head-on into another car, killing 26-year-old Katie Powles.
Mr Robinson's car rolled after impact and landed on its roof, pinning him behind the wheel with serious injuries, including a broken pelvis, hips, arm, wrist and leg.
Despite his intense pain, his only concern was for getting his sons out of the car, which smelled strongly of petrol, said his wife, Nicola Robinson.
With the help of members of the public who stopped at the crash site, Mr Robinson managed to pass Jayden - who was in the front seat - out through the shattered windscreen.
He also helped Callum - who was hanging upside down from his seatbelt - in the back seat.
"Even through he was in a tremendous amount of pain himself, he got Callum out," said Mrs Robinson. "He's an absolute hero."
Mr Robinson is in a serious but stable condition in Middlemore Hospital.
Mrs Robinson said her thoughts were with Mrs Powles' family, who were not so lucky.
She also wanted to thank members of the public who helped at the scene and emergency workers and doctors involved in her husband's care.
