17 Jan 2013

Another farm worker injured in quad bike accident

9:14 pm on 17 January 2013

Another farm worker has been injured in a quad bike accident.

A 23-year-old share milker from Rai Valley has been flown to Nelson hospital with head and chest injuries after the quad bike he was riding crashed into a ditch on Thursday evening.

The man was treated at the scene by an intensive care paramedic.

Earlier, this week a farmer fell off his quad bike and was stuck in a ditch for 17 hours.

The man was found on Tuesday morning near Matamata and flown to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.

So far this summer, two people have died and eight people have been injured in quad bike incidents.

In 2012, seven people died in quad bike accidents. On average, two children are killed and nearly 30 others are hospitalised each year due to quad bike related injuries.

Federated Farmers says age restrictions need to be looked at for the use of quad bikes following a spate in injuries on the all-terrain vehicles this summer.