Paralympic hero's mother killed in crash

Paralympic gold medal winner Adam Hall with his mother, Gayle, who died in a car crash near Dunedin this morning. Photo / Otago Daily Times

The mother of a Paralympian who last month won a gold medal for his country has been killed in a car accident today.

Gayle Hall, 48, of Otago, was one of the first to congratulate her son Adam, 22, last month after he won the men's standing-slalom ski event at the Winter Paralympics in Vancouver.

Mrs Hall was driving in Mosgiel, west of Dunedin, yesterday when her car went off the road and crashed into a hedge.

Mrs Hall had reportedly dropped her son off at Dunedin airport for a flight to Wellington just before the crash.

Emergency services were called to the accident at 8am and cut Mrs Hall from the car, but she died at the crash site.

Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

In a statement, a family spokesman said the Hall family had lost a much-loved wife and mother.

The family were trying to cope with the tragedy and asked for privacy. A further statement was expected later.

Paralympics New Zealand CEO Fiona Pickering said tonight she had contacted Adam and he was "handling it very well."

"He is with his family at the moment and they are all providing support."

Ms Pickering said Paralympics New Zealand was "shocked and saddened" with the news.

"We see the Halls very much as being part of the family. It's devastated us all. We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends."