Toddler who fell from car found

A toddler who fell out of a moving car and was whisked from a firefighter's arms by his grandparents has been found.

Levin volunteer fireman Nathan Tinney was with his family in a park in Levin on Sunday when he saw a car drive through the intersection of Bath St and Parker Ave. The back door flew open and a baby in a car seat toppled out on to the road. The car stopped just around the corner in Parker Ave and Mr Tinney went to help.

The grandparents, who were in the car at the time, picked the baby up and pulled the car over to the side of the road.

Mr Tinney said the 18-month-old boy had a large swelling coming up rapidly on his forehead, was distressed and started to experience breathing difficulties. He held the boy and tried to comfort him, while waiting for police and ambulance to arrive.

But the grandparents wanted to leave the scene straight away, Mr Tinney said. "I held the little fella and tried to keep him longer. He was starting to experience breathing difficulties, I tried to encourage the grandparents to wait, but they were very frisky to get away."

Mr Tinney said he urged the grandparents to take the boy to a medical centre straight away.

"The little fella whacked his head. He may not have had a serious issue that day, but three or four days, even a week down the track, he may have."

Police also held serious concerns for the boy's safety, but were relieved when they received a call from a relative yesterday identifying the grandparents and saying the baby was believed to be safe and well, but was still to be checked at a medical centre.

- © Fairfax NZ News