Eldery Waihi Man Suffers Serious Burns After Being Trapped in Armchair

Posted by Gold FM on 02/06/2011

An elderly Waihi man remains in a serious condition in Waikato Hospital after being trapped in his armchair for more than 12 hours near an electric heater overnight.

Waihi Senior Sergeant Rex Knight said police received a call from 79-year-old man's caregiver yesterday morning, saying they had knocked on the man's door and could hear him calling for help.

''We got called out and an officer got in and the man was found on the ground with his arm had become hooked up in his armchair.''

After becoming trapped he was forced lay beside  his heater (which was on) for more than 12 hours. He suffered serious burns to his back, and loss of circulation.

The TrustPower TECT rescue helicopter was called to airlift him to hospital.

Mr Knight said callouts by police or ambulance to medical accidents involving older people was not unusual.

''We're getting an aging population of people that are capable of still living in their homes and ambulances are dealing with these emergencies, medical calls, reasonably frequently.''