Mumthanks emergency services after son’s crash
The mother of the Motueka driver who crashed into a pole on Sunday night is thanking the emergency services for saving her son.
Country singer songwriter Aly Cook said her 21-year-old son Bailey, who was airlifted to Nelson Hospital with serious leg injuries, was ‘‘doing really well’’.
‘‘All I can think is a greater power was looking after him as his injuries are moderate in comparison to how the car looks,’’ she said.
It took emergency services more than an hour to free Bailey and a 16-year-old girl from the car, which was wrapped around the power pole.
Firefighters had to cut the roof off the car, take out the passenger seat and restretch the car away from the pole in order to get Bailey out of the vehicle.
Cook is currently at the Mildura Country Music Festival in Australia and heard about the crash moments before heading onstage to perform.
‘‘I am talking to Bailey a couple of times a day by Skype and phone and the support for our family has been great,’’ Cook said.
‘‘We are all very thankful. We really do have wonderful [emergency] services in the Nelson region.’’
It was hard being away while her son was in hospital, but the family had agreed it ‘‘best that I stay and continue the contracted performances.
‘‘I need to keep working to help pay for his care in the coming months as he rehabilitates, which I will be there for.’’
Cook said she was ‘‘counting down the hours’’ until she returned home on October 24.
‘‘You have to just carry on ... We are so lucky we have Skype and I am lucky to have a very amazing family and network of friends as is my son.’’
Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.