Ex-fireman frees trapped man

A retired Westport fireman freed a man trapped under a four-wheel drive this morning after hearing screams for help.

Courier operators Colin Craddock and his wife Bubsy had just arrived home when they heard the screams from their next door neighbour's home about 10.15am.

"We were in the kitchen and Colin went out for something and said 'what the hell s all that noise?"' Mrs Craddock said.

"Colin looked over the fence and could see him under the vehicle."

Mrs Craddock ran inside to call the ambulance while her husband rushed to help.

He found a jack in the garage and he and another neighbour helped lift the vehicle off the injured man, Mrs Craddock said.

"They had him clear before emergency services arrived."

She said the man, in his late 20s or early 30s, was stretchered out but was talking to his rescuers.

She had no idea how long he had been trapped before they heard him.

"It's just lucky we arrived home at the right time."

St John Ambulance spokesman Andrew Ching said the man was taken to Buller Hospital with moderate injuries and transferred by rescue helicopter to Grey Hospital.

- NZPA