An 8-year-old boy with links to the Swedish America's Cup syndicate Victory Challenge was in a critical condition in Starship children's hospital last night after being hit by a bus in downtown Auckland.
A witness said he saw a group of people from the Victory and Stars and Stripes syndicates standing on a traffic island opposite a BP petrol station on Fanshawe St just after 5pm. A young boy ran out among the stationary rush-hour traffic waiting for a green light.
The Auckland boy, friend of a son of a Victory Challenge yachtsman, had crossed two lanes when he was hit by a bus on the bus lane.
The witness said the bus driver probably had no warning because the small boy was obscured by cars. The bus dragged the boy about 10m, trapping him under the rear wheels. Passerby Brad Meiklejohn was smeared with the boy's blood after diving under the bus to help.
"We put towels under him and when he was lifted out there was a big pool of blood. Other than that he was a tough little bugger."
Fanshawe St was blocked off while the accident scene was examined. Victory Challenge spokesman, Bert Willborg, said the families of the boys - who attend the same school - had become very close during the team's stay in Auckland.
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