Father, son hurt in separate accidents on same day

A father and son had to be rescued within minutes of each other in separate accidents at the weekend.

Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance helicopter pilot Simon Lewis said a 45-year-old farmer had a quad bike accident at remote Aria, about 40km southwest of Te Kuiti.

The man had suffered a suspected pelvic injury and fractured sternum, and on his arrival at Waikato Hospital by helicopter on Saturday, another emergency call-out came in for the on-board St John paramedic crew.

Mr Lewis said he was instructed to fly back to the King Country to pick up a 13-year-old boy from Te Kuiti Hospital.

The boy had apparently rolled a vehicle near Aria, badly injuring his hand and suffering from concussion.

"It's freakish to have a father and son flown on the same day, in the same chopper, and to have them picked up after separate accidents," Mr Lewis said.

"The chances must be one in a million. Think of what sort of day mum was having."

It is understood police are investigating the crash involving the teenage boy, although the officer in charge at Te Kuiti could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

A police northern communications spokesman said the road crash was the result of a young driver in a van hitting a bank.

Meanwhile, the quad bike accident is believed to have happened on the farm of Dennis Greathead, and the injured man was one of his workers, Robert Grieves.

Mr Greathead did not want to comment yesterday because he did not want to prejudice any safety investigation.

Waikato Hospital spokeswoman Mary Anne Gill said the 13-year-old had undergone surgery on one of his thumbs.

Her understanding was that the 45-year-old man was the boy's stepfather. The man also had surgery yesterday, on his pelvis and sternum.

"His condition is satisfactory but is causing some concern."