Man spends night in open after crash

Reporter·NZ Herald·

7 Aug, 2015 03:26 AM2 mins to read

Emergency services at the scene of the crash. Photo / Supplied

The man who spent the night out in the open after his car came off the road in the Coromandel has his friends to thank for his rescue.

The local man, who's currently in hospital with suspected broken arms and legs, was believed to have been travelling home to Whangapoua, when he crashed off the road last night.

He managed to get himself out of the vehicle but it wasn't till this morning that one of his friends driving past spotted his vehicle, that had crashed at the bottom of Gentle Annie in Matarangi.

Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman Ati Wynyard said the man, in his 20s, had driven off Te Rerenga Kuaotunu Rd, State Highway 25.

St John Ambulance were called to the scene at about 9:30 this morning and the helicopter arrived shortly after at 9:57.

The man, who was in a serious condition, was flown to Waikato Hospital.

Dion Ross, a volunteer firefighter who was called to the scene this morning had no idea that it would be his friend he'd be helping.

"It was quite a traumatic experience," he said. "It was my first callout as a volunteer firefighter and to see it was one of your best mates you went to school with, it was pretty traumatic.

"It's been a pretty full on day, but he's alive and he will live another day."

Westpac Rescue Helicopter were called to the scene. Photo / Supplied

It was not the first time Mr Ross has had someone close to him injured on the roads in the Coromandel, with his uncle receiving spinal injuries in another car accident last year.

"It was a bit of déjà vu," he said.

Mr Ross, who was working in his family's business at the Castle Rock Café, said his uncle's injuries played a big role in his deciding to volunteer as a firefighter.