Only survivor of fatal crash returning home to Chile

Benjamin Blake was the only one to survive the crash that claimed the lives of four of his friends. Photo / Supplied

The father of the sole survivor of a horror crash in National Park in which four of his South American friends were killed, has thanked everyone involved with his son.

Chilean Benjamin Blake, 25, was today discharged from Waikato Hospital and is returning home with his father Eric Blake and girlfriend Macarena.

Argentine skifield workers German Caceres, 35, Agustin Donofrio, 25, Luciano Pucheta, 19, and Nicolas Ursic, 27, were killed in the head-on collision as they drove back to their accommodation at Whakapapa after an indoor football game.

The Holden Commodore the five men were in was overtaking in a dip in the road, just north of the Makatote Viaduct, when a truck and trailer came around a corner from the opposite direction, police said.

Mr Blake, also a skifield worker, suffered multiple broken bones and has had a number of operations.

His father, Dr Blake, has thanked everyone who welcomed his son and girlfriend to the country, gave them work and showed them friendship.

He acknowledged the football team who played against his son and his friends on the night of the crash and "shared with them their last joyful moments".

"Thank you to that other team, the team that rescued Benjamin underneath the distorted irons of the crashed car: the policemen, the firemen, specially those whose name is Benjamin too, and whose father was the ambulance driver that carried my son to Taumarunui Hospital and who I had the privilege to meet a few days ago."

He was also grateful to the medical staff who helped save his son's life and in the rehabilitation care after his surgeries.

"Thank you to all the nurses of the Ward 2 of the Waikato Hospital, who took care of Benjamin, shift after shift, until his discharge and made efforts to understand our English.

"Thank you to Father Gerard, to the psychologist, to the occupational therapist, to the registered nutritionist, to the blood bank and lab personnel, and to everyone who, directly or indirectly had something to do with the cure and care of Benjamin during these 21 days."

Dr Blake said he received "indispensable support" from the ambassador Isauro Torres and the consuls of Chile, Rodrigo Toledo and Gerry Williams.

"My family and I, will never end in our hearts of saying thank you to you all, who were part of Benjamin and Macarena's stay in New Zealand and the returning to life of my son Benjamin."