Two Danish men are lucky to be alive after their van smashed into a train at a level crossing near Kawerau.
The men were travelling towards Rotorua when they collided with the goods train at Onepu just after 11am yesterday.
The driver of the van, a 20-year-oldDanish man living in Gisborne, was airlifted to Rotorua Hospital by the Tenon Resuce Helicopter with critical head and chest injuries.
His passenger, who had similar injuries, was airlifted to Tauranga Hospital by the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter. His condition was described as serious.
Whakatane man Peter Westeneng was stopped at an intersection opposite the tracks when the crash occurred.
"The lights were flashing and the van in front of me was across the tracks. It locked up as the train came through - they had nowhere to go. The van just spun around," he said.
An off-duty paramedic who was first on the scene of the collision said he was counting himself lucky he was a short way behind the tourists.
The man, who did not wish to be named, said he heard the screech of brakes and a loud crunching of metal on metal.
"The Toyota Lite Ace had hit the train, I was very lucky to be two minutes behind them."
He called emergency services and gave initial first aid to the trapped men.
"Both men were unconscious and very, very unwell.
"There was nothing I could do to help the guys so I just stopped the traffic up the road until the police arrived."
