17 November 2009

Hamilton Police are commending the actions of bystanders and a doctor who came to the rescue of a toddler run over by a taxi in the Central City this afternoon.

Senior Sergeant Kent Holdsworth said the incident happened at the Hamilton Transport Centre on the corner of Anglesea and Bryce Streets about 2.45pm.

"As a taxi has been leaving the car park of the transport centre a 3-year-old girl has stepped out in front of it and been struck down, pinned under the left wheel arch.

"Fortunately the passenger in the taxi was a doctor from Waikato Hospital, bystanders have converged on the scene and collectively lifted the car off the trapped child who was extracted and preliminary care was commenced by the doctor and an off duty ambulance officer."

The girl was taken to Waikato Hospital by ambulance suffering from moderate to serious injuries but Mr Holdsworth said things could have been a lot worse.

"There's a number of people involved at the scene that deserve a pat on the back, the way the public converged at the scene and got that child out so that the off duty medical staff could carry out initial care is worthy of our recognition," he said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media