A Far North man airlifted to hospital after he was overcome by smoke and heat during a fire has died.
The 59-year-old was among a group of landowners battling to put out a blaze in long grass at Waimahana Bay, between Taupo Bay and Mangonui on April 30.
He is understood to have collapsed after suffering from smoke inhalation and the intense heat.
The Northland Electricity Rescue Helicopter flew him in a critical condition to Whangarei Hospital, where he died four days later.
The fire started as a burn-off that spread into 2ha of dry grass and threatened three dwellings.
Two fire crews from Mangonui and one from Taupo Bay took two hours to put out the blaze.
- Northern Advocate
