Woman's courage after leg 'practically severed' by truck

The CourierPost truck had its back tray down as it reversed and pinned the woman against a wall. Photo / Chris Loufte

Witnesses describe 'absolutely horrid' scene as woman fears for her life after truck pins her against wall.

Witnesses have described a woman's incredible courage after her leg was almost severed by the rear tray of a reversing truck - and how they assured her she would not die in their arms.

"I heard screaming and then I heard 'help, help, help' ... we ran over and there was a girl, she was up against the wall and her leg was practically severed," said a woman who was on her way to brunch in Auckland with her sister as the event unfolded.

She said the incident was "absolutely horrid". She and her sister tried to comfort and help the badly injured woman, 37, while they waited for paramedics to arrive.

"She was crying out for her babies and was crying out, 'I'm dying, I'm dying' and my sister said to her 'no, you're not dying sweetheart, you're in shock'," the woman said. "Obviously she wasn't feeling any pain and then she just sort of went calm and I was like, oh my God, she's gone."

The witnesses spoke to the Herald about the ordeal yesterday as the victim recovered in Auckland City Hospital.

The woman was running down Richmond Rd in Grey Lynn about 10.30am on Sunday when the truck began reversing towards her with its back tray down. The tray pinned the woman against a wall.

Hell Pizza owner Edward Chen heard a loud bang, followed by a woman screaming "help, help, help".

"When I went there to have a look I saw three or four people around the lady. Her legs were totally broken."

One contractor said of the scream: "I've never heard anything like it."

Police are investigating the incident but say that it is too early to determine if any charges will be laid.

They initially told media the woman had lost one leg and that the other had to be "surgically removed". Yesterday spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty issued a statement saying that information was incorrect.

"Police accept the information passed to you is incorrect and apologise for any confusion it has caused."

The victim's family said she was "recovering".

They were not ready to speak further about the incident and requested that the specifics of her condition be withheld.

The driver of the truck has been stood down pending the investigation.

It is understood the driver was picking up empty mail cartons from the Grey Lynn branch of NZ Post, which was closed, when the incident occurred.

The CourierPost truck is owned by a contractor for Express Couriers Limited. An employee of the owner was driving at the time.

ECL spokeswoman Ana-Mari Gates-Bowey said: "The driver is extremely distressed and is receiving support from ECL and his family."

Chief operating officer Paul Trotman said ECL was investigating the incident and had conducted interviews with the contractor and his employee.

"We recognise this is a traumatic time for everyone involved."

- additional reporting Anna Leask