Fatal-crash pupil out of coma, first thoughts are for mates

The tanker driver and seven others were taken to hospital. The driver was discharged that day. Worst injured was Nick Wallbridge. Photo / Thinkstock

Nick Wallbridge was left fighting for his life after a van smash that killed his teacher and classmate. But the Queensland teenager's first thoughts when he woke in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit were not for himself.

They were for his mates.

His parents, Rod and Anne, had to deliver the sad news that two of those travelling with him did not make it.

Teacher Andre Vogel, a 36-year-old father of two, and Gabriel Runge, aged 16 like Nick, died when the van Mr Vogel was driving collided with a milk tanker on State Highway 5 near Reporoa 10 days ago.

They had been in New Zealand on a week-long visit as part of a group from Noosa Pengari Steiner School.

The tanker driver and seven others were taken to hospital. The driver was discharged that day. Worst injured was Nick Wallbridge. A rescue helicopter flew him to Waikato Hospital and his parents and 8-year-old brother flew from their Sunshine Coast home to be at his side.

As the others were discharged from hospital and boarded flights home to Australia, Nick remained in intensive care.

By early last week, though, "all his tubes were out" and he was "speaking and eating", Noosa Pengari Steiner principal Allen Kloeden told the Herald on Sunday.

"He's got a little bit of internal damage to be monitored but he's woken up and is talking to his parents."

Nick's parents had shared his first words, Mr Kloeden said.

"They said the first thing he asked was, 'How are the other staff and students?' His parents did tell him [two died] and that was a bit hard for him. But lots of people have been there with him."

Although he was in a lot of pain Nick, had already started physio.

A hospital spokeswoman confirmed that Nick remained in a stable condition.

Mr Kloeden said his parents did not know when he would return to Australia.

"They're talking several weeks ... but they don't know if he'll stay until he's discharged or if he'll be medically evacuated back to a hospital."