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A Huntly 2-year-old has been dubbed a "miracle boy" after being run over by a van in the driveway of his family home - and surviving.
Dekota Tuakura was run over by a Toyota Hiace driven by his grandfather, Upokoina Tuakura, yesterday morning. But despite his chest being run over by a wheel, Dekota has only a broken collarbone and some bruising. He is being kept on a respirator in Waikato Hospital for two days as a precaution. But he can move on the hospital bed.
Yesterday Dekota's family gathered by his bedside. Upokoina didn't move from his grandson's side and stroked the little boy's head, realising how lucky they were.
"He's just my miracle boy," he said. "To get run over and survive is amazing."
Upokoina told the Herald on Sunday he made sure the three children were out of the way before moving the van in the Huntly driveway. But it seems Dekota chased after his lollies when they rolled under the vehicle. Upokoina didn't see him and was alerted by the other children's screaming.
"I heard the kids yell out. I felt something under the van but I carried on. He was already under - if I stopped I would have stopped on top of him. So I just had to go over him."
Upokoina said he was thankful his grandson was still alive. But he was distraught that he had put Dekota in hospital. When the boy was taken to hospital he stayed behind to look after the other children and didn't know until Dekota's father, Oki Tuakura, rang him that the boy would survive.
The family was planning a big trip to the beach when the accident happened. Oki was hooking the boat up to his car when he heard the other children screaming.
"I just heard them all yelling. I thought 'what happened?' [Dekota] was just lying there. I grabbed him but he felt all floppy."
Oki said chaos reigned in the driveway but the family rang the ambulance service and the toddler was rushed to hospital. Dekota's mother Shontelle was inside when the children ran in yelling at her to call for help. "I got told to ring an ambulance. Then I panicked."
But later at the hospital she was able to share a joke.
"My gorgeous boy's going to be in the paper."
