Dunedin man dies eight days after crashing off track in his wheelchair

The man died after crashing his wheelchair into a boat shed on a Portobello Rd walking track. Photo / ODT

A man has died in Dunedin Hospital about a week after he crashed into the side of a boat shed in his wheelchair.

Michael James MacLeod, 46, of Dunedin, died on Sunday after receiving life-threatening head injuries on December 12.

MacLeod was heading home on the Portobello Rd walking track, near Rose Hill Rd, when he lost control of his motorised wheelchair about 10pm.

The wheelchair left the track at speed and crashed into a boat shed.

Sergeant Aaron Burgess, of Dunedin, said MacLeod had been in the intensive care unit at Dunedin Hospital since the accident.

The circumstances of his death were still under investigation, and the incident would be referred to the coroner.

Family members gave tributes yesterday, saying: "We know you will now be running free," and "A limb has fallen from the family tree, who will be sadly missed".

A funeral service will be held at Hope and Sons at 12.30pm on Thursday.