Beer bottle victim emerging from coma

Photo / Martin Sykes

A 65-year-old woman is emerging from a coma in Tauranga Hospital after having a beer bottle thrown at her head from a passing car at the weekend.

The incident happened about 8.20am on Saturday while the woman, Mary Loader, was walking on Domain Road in Papamoa, Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Turner said.

The impact of the glass bottle knocked her to the ground and left her with significant facial injuries and she remained in an induced coma in the intensive care unit at Tauranga Hospital.

It was a senseless act that has resulted in an innocent woman suffering horrific injuries, Mr Turner said.

"At this stage we have spoken to some witnesses who saw the incident, however, we urgently need further information from other members of the public. It may be someone who was in the area at the time, or someone who may have overheard people talking about it since."

Mrs Loader's daughter, Vicky, told the Bay of Plenty Times her mother had had hours of reconstructive surgery and five titanium plates inserted in her face after the bottle left her with a deep gash between the eyes, another between the nose and top lip, shattered cheekbones and a broken nose.

"We're just devastated, and to see her now really is shocking. I don't think they realise what they've done," Vicky Loader said.

"(It's) such a mindless act that caused so much devastation, really. They just need to see what they've done - if it was their mother up there (in hospital) ... it's just terrible."

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB