The father of a boy who was seriously injured when a pile of dirt collapsed on him yesterday is calling for an investigation into the incident.
The 12-year-old had dug a hole, which had collapsed on him, near an area called the backtracks in Twizel, about 10.20am, police said.
His father Craig Miller pulled him from the hole.
Mr Miller told Radio New Zealand his son was unconscious, but he started breathing again once his airways were cleared of dirt.
"Once the airways were cleared out he was back breathing by himself, and he kept on fighting, he hasn't stopped fighting yet."
The boy remained in the intensive care unit at Dunedin Hospital, in a stable condition and was expected to make a full recovery.
Mr Miller wanted a health and safety investigation into the accident to ensure no one else was hurt in similar circumstances.
A St John spokesman said the boy's injuries included possible chest injuries and injuries caused by the suffocation from the dirt.
Senior Constable Les Andrew from Twizel police said yesterday by the time the boy was taken away by paramedics, he was "screaming and crying and so-forth which is a good sign".
The boy was from Timaru and had been in Twizel staying at a family bach, he said.
