By NICHOLA LOBBAN nichola.lobban@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
A DANNEVIRKE man remained in a critical condition in Palmerston North hospital last night, after the 4WD vehicle he was in rolled down a 200-metre bank on Turakina Valley Rd on Saturday.
The man, who was said to be about 25 years old and possibly a Massey University student, had been out duck shooting with another man before the accident.
Although no one could say why the vehicle went over the bank, the accident occurred on a windy, gravel road near Papanui Junction.
One of the vehicle's two occupants was thrown out at the top of the bank and was unhurt, but the injured man had stayed in the vehicle as it rolled down the steep bank and was only thrown out at the last minute, those who attended the scene told the Chronicle.
It was unclear yesterday who was driving the vehicle. A local farmer said the uninjured man came to his house just before 8pm and called the fire brigade.
"We just jumped in the car and went down there," he said. The men climbed down the bank, where they found the man in a state of semi-consciousness and stayed with him until emergency services arrived.
Taihape chief fire officer Tony Collings said the brigade was called to the scene about 8pm and had worked until after midnight to winch the man up the bank.
"It was a matter of getting a line down to [the 4WD vehicle], and even then the lines didn't reach, he said.
"It's basically a large steep bank and not quite vertical [and] in places it was covered in grass and shrubs." The vehicle was in the Turakina River.
"He'll be a very lucky boy if he makes it," Mr Collings said.
The Waiouru Camp brigade and local farmers and shepherds assisted the two Taihape appliances, he said.
Square Trust Rescue Helicopter pilot Jarrod Colbourne said he was called in at about 9.30pm and arrived at Palmerston North Emergency Department with the injured man about 12.45am yesterday.
The man received "multiple traumatic injuries" in the accident, he said.
The Wanganui Chronicle was unable to contact police yesterday.
A Palmerston North Hospital spokesman last night said the man was "seriously ill" in the intensive care unit.
Shooter in critical condition after 200-metre plunge
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.