Elderly man trapped in campervan for three days

The man was taken to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition. Photo / Supplied

An elderly man has been rescued after being trapped for three days inside a campervan.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter says the 70-year-old man had fallen over inside the vehicle and became trapped between the front seat and foot pedal.

He had been wedged in the same position for three days before ambulance and firefighters pulled him to safety.

The rescue helicopter was called to Paeroa where they met the man who was suffering from hypothermia and tissue damage to his leg.

He was flown to Waikato Hospital yesterday afternoon in a serious condition.

Paero Fire Brigade station officer Paul Jackson said the elderly man was in his motorhome at the town's RV Centre motorhome park when the accident happened.

"It appears he has somehow slipped going from the front to the rear of his motorhome and became wedged between the passenger seat and the driver's seat."

He then spent two freezing cold nights trapped in his mobile home waiting for help to arrive.

"Some residents became concerned as they hadn't seen him for a couple of days," he said.

"One of the ladies found him and raised the alarm."

The man was suffering from mild hypothermia and was extremely dehydrated by the time he was discovered on Sunday afternoon, Jackson said.

The operation to free the man was relatively simple, he said, with firefighters lifting him up out of his awkward position at the front of his vehicle.

"He was very relieved," said Jackson.