He said there were multiple fire crews, St John Ambulance staff and police at the scene. “Everyone did everything they could.” Hackling said it “took an effort to help get” the men from down the bank and into an ambulance. The property emergency services were called to backs on to Marfell Park, but there is a drop to it and a line of trees. A Taranaki District Health Board spokeswoman confirmed both men were brought to Taranaki Base Hospital on Saturday night. “One person is deceased. The other person, who is a male in his 50s, remains in hospital in a stable condition.”
“It was super quick thinking,” he said. “The upper floor occupants were able to escape.”
Leighton Keith/Stuff
The 120-year-old central city cottage was split into two flats. He said it was a timely reminder to always have an escape plan in place and make sure homes had working smoke alarms. A St John Ambulance spokeswoman said all three occupants were transported to Taranaki Base Hospital on Tuesday night, two with minor injuries and one with serious. A Taranaki District Health Board spokeswoman said the man, who was seriously injured, was flown to Waikato Hospital around 4am on Wednesday morning.