David Eagle has no recollection of the moment he was struck by a car in Te Puna, smashing his head into the windscreen, breaking multiple bones in his body and busting his face.
Mr Eagle, 33, was struck from behind while walking from his car on Te Puna Station Rd around 6pm Saturday night.
After stepping out on to the road to wave down his partner as she drove to drop him his car keys, he was hit from behind.
His partner had dropped him at his vehicle on Te Puna Station Rd but when he realised he'd left his keys in her car, he started walking towards her house. His partner, realising she had the keys, had meanwhile turned around and driven back to Mr Eagles.
"I remember everything except the accident. I was making sure I was well off the road [ ... until I saw her car]. She remembers seeing me. I stepped into the road. She saw it happen," he said.