Race volunteer scalped in bizarre loading accident

A "freak accident" scalped and nearly broke the neck of a man loading a truck in preparation for a karting race.

The Papamoa 34-year-old was at Fagan's Valley Raceway in Te Puke, preparing for the Tauranga Street Race, when the lifting equipment he was using failed.

St John rural support officer Richard Waterson confirmed the injury was effectively a scalping from "serious lacerations" to the man's head.

Mr Waterson also treated the man for a possible broken neck and took him to Tauranga Hospital.

He has since been moved out of intensive care and remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Race convener Steve Glover was next to the man when Friday's "terrible" accident happened and described him as a "big, strong guy".

"He was still walking around, he was just holding his head - as you would," Mr Glover said.

About a dozen people had been helping to load the trucks. Some, like the man, were using machinery.

"It was lifting equipment itself that failed and caused the injury. It was a freak accident," Mr Glover said.

"It's a hard thing to process. We are all volunteers, so it's hard to know exactly what to do or what to say to people."

Volunteers trained in first-aid helped to look after the man until the ambulance arrived.

"When I saw him [in hospital] he told me I had to tell everyone he was good and fine [and that] accidents happen," Mr Glover said.

The Department of Labour has confirmed it is investigating an incident.

- APN