Man survives horror smash

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 405, 24 September 1991, Page 9

Man survives horror smash

The toughest rescue challenge yet to face the Ohakune Fire Brigade and the Waimarino Ambulance Service was on Saturday night when they were called to a car accident in Goldfinch Street, Ohakune. A utility driven by a young Ohakune man, had run off the road and struck the concrete rail of the bridge near the Ohakune Club entrance. The callout was made at about midnight, by two people who witnessed the accident. Fire Brigade officer Ben Goddard said it took all the resources of the brigade to free the man from the ute. The car had hit the bridge so hard the concrete rail was hard up against the bulkhead of the vehicle, having missed the engine. The dashboard and fire wall completely trapped the victim's lower torso and legs, said Mr Goddard.

He said it took about two hours for the ambulance staff to stabilize the victim and then for the brigade to free him. Mr Goddard said all the Brigade's cutting gear, plus a 'porta power' unit from his own workshop, were used in the operation. The metal trapping the man was so twisted it took some planning to work out how to free him, said Mr Goddard. The cutting time probably amounted to a total of 40 minutes, he said. The first cutting work was done to give access to the ambulance staff. The Waimarino Rescue Trust helicopter arrived on the scene at about 2am by which time the patient had been extricated from the wreck. He was flown to Palmerston North hospital where the Bulletin understands he is in a comfortable condition.

The man was wearing a seatbelt, said Mr Goddard, which almost certainly helped save his life. The rescuers left for home about 4am after preparing their equipment for the next callout, only to be called at 8 am on Sunday morning to another car accident at the corner of Miro and Clyde Streets. Rescue gear was not required and only minor injuries were suffered, said Mr Goddard.