"That's why she wasn't looking and she got collected. I know the guy drove off. They were saying he got back on his bike and took off and the police caught up with him later. I don't know if he was ever charged."
Carol and Barrie Hill.
Hill was put in an induced coma and later airlifted to hospital in Athens on a medevac flight.
"They said it was a 20 to 30 per cent survival rate when it happened. When [sons] Shane and Lance flew over they told Shane it improved to 60 per cent " maybe that was to keep them happy on the flight," Opele said.
"At the end of last week they were thinking of trying to wake her. I think they said it takes time " three days to wake from a coma.
"She did have movement in her legs when they were part way through the waking process which they said was a good sign."
But she died of a heart attack during an operation on a collapsed lung.
Hospital rules meant Barrie could only see his wife for 15 minutes each morning and 15 minutes at night.
When Lance and Shane arrived they had to split that time between them.
Although the Hills had insurance, Opele wasn't sure what it covered and Barrie faced extra stress when his bank cancelled his credit card after he maxed it out paying for the €7,000 (NZ$11,600) medevac flight.
The two sons have since returned home. It is not yet known when Carol's body will leave Greece.
In a statement to the Herald on Sunday, Lance Hill said: "We'd like to thank the doctors and nurses in Greece who have done as much as possible to save her life and for the dedication shown to Carol, Barrie, Shane and I while we visited her.
"To our family and friends who have supported us so far, your help hasn't gone unnoticed and is truly appreciated."
Opele has known the Hills since childhood and has been raising money to help with expenses, including organising a fundraising run that generated about $4600. Businesses also donated goods that were auctioned off on a local radio station, raising a further $1,500.
Opele said he was helping the Hill family out because they were the type of people who would do the same for others.
Lance said of Ashburton locals' fundraising efforts: "The entire community has stepped up and done such an amazing effort supporting us and donations have still been flowing in over the last few weeks, which is so humbling."
Carol worked at the Silver Fern Farms' meat processing plant in Ashburton.
She was a sociable and fun person, who belonged to a wine club, Opele said. She was also into camping with her family and travelling.
She and Barrie celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in Moeraki, on the South Island's east coast, and last year they visited Fiji.
Donations to help the Hill family can be made online via ANZ bank account: 01-0834-0164407-46.
