Father watches as kids injured in horrific accident

The father of two children seriously injured when the ute they were in rolled on a farm near Nelson watched the "nightmare" unfold.

The children were helping their father feed out hay to stock on a farm in the Tapawera-Baton area, southwest of Nelson, when the ute rolled down a hill about 6.15pm, trapping them.

A Nelson-Marlborough rescue helicopter spokesman said the 5-year-old girl suffered facial and head injuries, and the 3-year-old boy leg and abdomen injuries.

They were flown to Nelson Hospital where they remain in a "stable" condition.

The spokesman understood the father, who suffered only superficial injuries, was not in the vehicle and saw the incident happen.

The girl was "ejected" from the vehicle when it came to an abrupt halt, before landing on top of her, he said.

"It came down and fell on its nose and she went through the front windscreen and the ute rolled on top of her after that. It was pretty horrific. The boy was thrown around inside. They're very lucky to be alive I'd say. Fingers crossed they're both going to be OK. It'd be a parents' worst nightmare, let alone seeing it happen in front to them," he said.

A police spokeswoman said a scene examination would be carried out today and the father would be interviewed.

"From our perspective we're yet to establish what's happened and how it happened," she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News