Toddler revived at crash scene dies in hospital

Five people were hurt in this three-car crash on State Highway 2. Photo / Greg Bowker

A two-year-old boy who was revived by members of the public at the scene of a head-on crash in Waikato last weekend has died in hospital.

Samuel Tonkin, of Auckland, stopped breathing after the vehicle he was in collided with another on State Highway 2 near Maramarua in north Waikato last Sunday morning.

An off-duty accident and emergency nurse managed to resuscitate Samuel after a Taupo man cut him from the vehicle's wreckage.

He was flown to Auckland's Starship Hospital, where he died on Wednesday.

Waikato road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman said the loss of any child was tragic "but Samuel's death was more so given so many people had combined to try and save him, both at the roadside and then in the hospital".

On Tuesday, Constable Lloyd Smith, the first police officer at the scene, said he had meet with other officers to discuss how best to honour those people who stopped to help.

"These actions have given the boy a fighting chance," he said.

"I have spoken to some of the good samaritans to thank them for their efforts and we'll be looking at how we can best show our appreciation."

Four other people were also seriously injured in the crash.

Mr Tooman said he expected a lot of traffic on the roads over the next three days as many people went away over Auckland Anniversary weekend.

"We don't want to see a repeat of last weekend's tragedies," he said.

"We're asking drivers to remember to plan for delays, not to get impatient and to stick to the basics such as stay on the left, buckle in, avoid drinking and keep your cool."

- NZPA