Second farm bike death in two weeks
Police have confirmed a man seriously hurt in a farm vehicle crash in South Canterbury has died.
The man died at Dunedin Hospital, where he was transported by helicopter after an incident at a farm near Waimate.
Many details had yet to be confirmed but it was known he was in a critical condition when he was airlifted from the farm at Elephant Hill.
St John was called to the scene at about 10am on Saturday.
The man died later that day, a police spokeswoman confirmed late yesterday.
The incident was the second fatality in two weeks involving a small farm vehicle in South Canterbury.
The first was also in the Waimate district, at the intersection of the Hakataramea Highway and Shearers Hill Rd late on April 28.
Waimate father of two, Paul Dee died after the quad bike he was riding crashed.
Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley offered his condolences to those affected by the tragic deaths.
Such fatalities, in such quick succession, would be a shock to families and were certainly a shock to those in the district.
‘‘Two deaths in 10 days is just shocking, hopefully that is the last one in some time.’’
Rowley urged others using small farm vehicles to be as careful as they could.
Waimate councillor David Owen called the deaths ‘‘absolutely shocking’’. His heart went out to the men’s families.
The causes of each crashes had yet to be determined.
Federated Farmers South Canterbury president Mark Adams extended his condolences to the family and friends of the men.
Using essential farm equipment such as quad bikes and other mobile machinery was a ‘‘dilemma’’ for farmers who could easily find themselves in trouble, .
One of a farm’s most useful tools, the quad bike, was also one of its biggest dangers.
‘‘They are a wonderful tool for getting right on site, they are very mobile and agile’’ - but they could also be linked to serious injury.
The crashes happened within 10km of each other, but it would be incorrect to assume the area or its geography were unique influences.
‘‘It’s no different to anywhere else in rural New Zealand,’’ Adams said.
He advised farmers to follow best practice and to be mindful at all times. ‘‘Stay frosty until its turned off, you are not home until you are home.’’
WorkSafe yesterday confirmed there had been 16 recorded fatalities at workplaces around New Zealand so far this year.
Of these, four were involved with agriculture; all agriculture fatalities involved machinery.