'It's a miracle I'm still here' (+ video)

CRASH: The scene of the crash in December.

Tony Araroa says it is a miracle he is still alive today.

The 48-year-old Minginui man was seriously injured after a head-on crash with a fully laden logging truck in Kaingaroa in early December.

Mr Araroa, who works for a logging company, was driving to work with four of his workmates when he approached a blind corner on Middle Rd.

"I can't really remember what happened next. I just sort of met the vehicle on a blind corner. I couldn't see, it was early in the morning, there was dust everywhere. All I remember was a great big 'boom' and next minute I was unconscious," he said.

What happened next was a blur of medical staff, the noise of a rescue helicopter, a paramedic's voice and waking up dazed in Waikato Hospital, he said.

His workmates managed to escape with minor cuts and bruises, but he received serious injuries to his arms and legs.

One of his arms and one of his legs were broken in three places.

He underwent dozens of surgeries and skin grafts and spent more than two weeks in Waikato Hospital, before being transferred to Rotorua Hospital for more than a month.

"My leg is really bad, it looks like a shark has bitten my leg off. But it's very slowly getting better. The doctors reckon it might take up to two years for me to fully recover. I was pretty lucky," he said.

Having been recently discharged from hospital, Mr Araroa wanted to thank all those people who had supported him.

While he still faced more rehabilitation, he believed the worst was over.

"Sometimes I would get really down, I'd think 'why the hell am I here. I should have just died. It would have made it easier'. My thoughts were like that because it was just so hard, but it was the people that supported me, the doctors, nurses, all the medical staff and friends and family, who got me through it."

Mr Araroa also wanted to thank emergency services personnel and the medical staff at Waikato and Rotorua hospitals.

"Without them, I honestly don't think I'd be alive today. It's a miracle that I'm still here and I have them to thank for it. On behalf of me and my partner, Katie, thank you."

Mr Araroa said he also wanted to thank friends Paul and Karen Groots.

-Head online to www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz for video of Mr Araroa talking about his recovery.