Suspected freedom camper's life saved by law change

File photo / Hawke's Bay Today

A routine council callout to move on a suspected freedom camper parked outside Westport's NBS Theatre has saved the man's life.

Buller District Council (BDC) compliance and emergency team leader Atila de Oliveira got no response when he tried to rouse someone in the campervan about 8.30am on October 3, said BDC community services officer Lana Hands.

Mr de Oliveira left a freedom camping brochure on the windscreen before returning at about 1pm. He still got no answer and became worried an older person was inside.

He contacted police who forced entry to the van an hour later.

They found 78-year-old Murchison man Reginald Crosbie seriously ill, apparently having suffered a heart attack.

An ambulance was called to take Mr Crosbie to Buller Hospital, from which he was later airlifted to Greymouth.

The van was removed from the car park and taken to the police station.

Ms Hands said council understood Mr Crosbie had arrived in Westport two days earlier. He was believed to be now recovering at home.

The team effort between the BDC, police and St John had saved Mr Crosbie's life, she said.

"If it hadn't been for the changes to the Freedom Camping Act which came into effect on September 1 this year, the alarm may not have necessarily been raised when it was," she said.