Freak accident leaves Westland District Councillor fighting for his life

Westland District Councillor, Latham Martin was performing an ordinary task when something out of the ordinary happened.  A freak accident while volunteering for his community using a weed-eater left the 26-year-old fighting for his life, but thanks to the selfless gift from 31 blood donors around New Zealand, Latham now has an amazing story to tell.

On Tuesday, January 5^th 2021 Latham decided to start the new year doing a good deed.  After public complaints about the long grass along Gibson Quay, the Westland District Councillor and friends put a day aside to cut it back.  As he was working, the weed-eater flicked up a stone which hit him in the chest.

Apart from a small rip in his shirt, the only thought Latham had about the incident was that his ribs might bruise that night. He carried on for another five minutes before stopping for lunch.

Things quickly took a turn for the worse on his walk back to eat lunch. He passed out twice in quick succession. Luckily his friends were close by and rushed to his aid, calling 111 and putting him in the recovery position.

The seemly innocent stone flick had, in fact, caused life-threatening internal injuries. “The stone hitting my ribs created a concussion wave through my body, which blew out some of my arteries and veins around my heart and lung.” Latham explains.

Latham lost 5 litres of blood (2 litres when the surgeon inserted a drain into his chest, and another 3 litres during surgery) and required 31 blood transfusions. It was touch and go, and his family were told to prepare for the worse.

During emergency surgery West Coast surgeons had uncovered a major bleed from a ruptured artery, and several other small bleeds throughout his chest and lungs. They clamped the artery and send him by air to the Capital and Coast DHB in Wellington for additional surgery.

Reflecting on his experience Latham says, “I’m so thankful for the health service we have on the West Coast, and how the country united to create an integrated response for this trauma. “

“Out of all of that I’ve come to really notice, and been impacted by the great work that the health service does in this country.”

Latham is now at home recovering, but it will take up to twelve months to fully recover. In the meantime, he is using his voice to encourage more New Zealanders to donate blood because one day they made need donations to help save their lives.

“People have been asking me what can we do to help you, and my answer is give blood, support the New Zealand Blood Service and take an hour out of your day and go and give blood. It truly does save lives.”

It’s thanks to the country’s 112,000 registered blood donors that NZBS is able to continue to ensure blood is available when needed. To find out more about how you can donate blood or plasma, click here, or call 0800 GIVE BLOOD