Man may lose toes after boating mishap

Matauri Bay. Photo / Northern Advocate

Northland campers ran to the aid of a man whose foot was severely injured by an outboard motor propeller.

The 44-year-old had his camping and boating trip cut short after his foot was hit by the propeller as he launched his boat at Matauri Bay yesterday.

Campers flocked to help the man who lay in shock at the water's edge.

Camper Tom Wilson, 14, said he was in a caravan beside the beach-front with family and friends when he heard screams.

"We looked out and saw a guy lying on the beach, we grabbed ice, a chair and some towels," he said.

The man was dragged by other campers away from the water. They saw his foot was severely injured.

"A surgical nurse among the campers wrapped the man in a tinfoil blanket," said Mr Wilson. "He was in shock. His foot was munched ... and the bone had been crushed.

"It wasn't scary ... just a bit gruesome; I felt bad for his family."

An ambulance from Kerikeri attended the scene and two fire appliances arrived from Kerikeri and Kaeo in case the man's foot had to be freed from the propeller or a landing pad needed to be cleared for the rescue helicopter.

Kaeo Fire Service chief Lindsay Murray said he arrived when the helicopter had landed and the ambulance crew had the man in the ambulance.

St John Northland operation manager Tony Devaney said the injured man had been launching the boat with the propeller running.

A wave struck the boat and the propeller moved with the wave, landing on the man's foot, crushing and cutting it.

"He has extensive foot injuries and is being treated at Whangarei Hospital but may have to be airlifted to Middlemore."

Ambulance crew from Kerikeri stabilised the man gradually and lifted him to the Northland electricity helicopter.

The injured man, who could lose some of his toes, may face reconstructive surgery at the Auckland hospital depending on how efforts at Whangarei Hospital went, Mr Devaney said.