The two Hokitika men injured in a microlight crash at Hokitika Airport last month could return home from hospital this week.
Hokitika Airport manager Drew Howat and Department of Conservation ranger Tim Shaw suffered broken bones in the April 22 crash, but both managed to free themselves from the wreckage before it caught fire.
Speaking from Christchurch Hospital yesterday, Mr Howat said they were both recovering well.
He had undergone surgery for a broken ankle and also suffered a dislocated elbow, while Mr Shaw was recovering from a hip injury.
''We certainly consider ourselves very lucky to get out of that one alive. First the crash and then the fire; so we sort of dodged two bullets there.''
The men were on a training flight in Mr Shaw's microlight. Mr Howat was the instructor and was flying at the time.
He said they had climbed to about 91m when something went wrong with the engine. The aircraft started to glide down while the motor was idling. Mr Howat had tried to turn back, but did not have enough height to complete the manoeuvre.
He said it was likely they would be discharged this week.
The two men are still to be interviewed by the Civil Aviation Authority, which is investigating the crash.
-From the Hokitika Guardian
-By Janna Sherman
