Waikato District Health Board

Teenager appeals for woman who saved his life to come forward

photo of Gareth Clark taken today

Matamata teenager Gareth Clark is calling on the woman who saved his life at the scene of a car accident in the town last week (Tuesday 20 November) to come forward so he can publicly thank her.

Gareth, 16, a student at Matamata College is in ward 17 at Waikato Hospital with 32 staples to his neck after a tree branch skewered through his neck.

The woman applied nappies to the neck at the scene to absorb the blood and tied a jumper around his neck as a tourniquet. Gareth says she saved his life.

Please find attached a statement from Gareth Clark and from Waikato Hospital's ear, nose and throat surgeon Mr Andrew Currie talking about the wound.

ENDS