Man cheats death for second time

A Paraparaumu man had his leg crushed yesterday in an accident in which he cheated death for the second time in 18 months.

John Scott, 54, of Otaihanga, was working on a one-tonne loading ramp at the back of a truck in a cartage yard when it fell, crushing his leg.

Mr Scott survived a head-on crash 18 months ago which wrote off the truck he was driving.

Yesterday two colleagues rushed to his assistance and used a forklift to lift the ramp from his leg and free him.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman Jon Leach said: "It could easily have been fatal. His quick response jumping out of the way saved him from being clobbered further up his body."

Mr Scott was flown to Wellington Hospital for six hours of emergency surgery. He was stable last night.