Man denied bail after boat ramp ramming

Photo / File

A man has been denied bail and will remain in custody for at least six days after a whitebaiter Troy Hughes critically injured in a violent boat ramp incident.

Robert Wilson will reappear in Pukekohe District Court next Wednesday for a bail application.

He was earlier charged with injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was denied bail at his court appearance yesterday.

Mr Hughes was injured when a man allegedly rammed a vehicle into his legs at a boat ramp beside the Waikato river.

The incident happened at the Elbow Rd boat ramp in Aka Aka, near Waiuku, at about 5pm on Monday.

The area is one of the best spots for the lucrative whitebaiting fishery in Waikato.

A Waiuku fisherman said his niece was among a small group of people who found Mr Hughes in agony and bleeding profusely after the accident.

He understood the driver of a vehicle left his car and fled the ramp in a boat before police caught him.

Another fisherman and friend Mr Hughes described his mate as "an extremely experienced boatie."

Mr Hughes had substantial leg trauma and was taken to Middlemore hospital in a critical condition.

Mr Hughes has since improved and is now in a stable condition.