A wounded man stumbled from Dixon St, through the town centre, to Masterton’s Z petrol station. PHOTO/ MARY ARGUE
Injured man stumbles three blocks for help
A man suffering stab wounds to the chest and shoulder stumbled at least three blocks while heavily bleeding to ask for help. MARY ARGUE reports.
Police have confirmed an investigation has been launched into how a 42-year-old man was critically injured in Masterton on Wednesday night.
The man arrived at the Z petrol station on Chapel St shortly after 11pm and asked the graveyard shift attendant to call an ambulance.
A Z employee reportedly said the man was clutching a towel to his chest to stem the bleeding.
Wellington Free Ambulance responded to a report at Z petrol station at 11.15pm and transported a critically injured man to Wellington Hospital.
The Life Flight helicopter was called to help but was stood down due to dense fog in Wairarapa.
A Capital and Coast District Health Board spokesperson said the man remained in a ward in a stable condition.
The petrol station manager would not comment on Thursday and said the matter was with the police.
A Z Energy spokesperson said support would be provided to any employee who needed it, and they would be working closely with the police to ascertain what happened.
A witness said the petrol station forecourt was inundated with emergency services at about 11.30pm Wednesday, including three police cars and two ambulances.
He said a police officer was walking slowly down Chapel St with a torch.
“He was obviously looking for something.”
Wairarapa Detective Sergeant Mike Smith said the man was bleeding heavily and, although briefly questioned at the petrol station, could not provide any information about his injuries.
Smith said CCTV footage showed the man stumbling from Dixon St, down Bannister St and Perry St before arriving at the Chapel St petrol station.
He said the footage indicated the man was holding an item of clothing to his chest.
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“We are confident through the CCTV that the scene of the stabbing was not the Z petrol station.”
He said police were working to determine where the stabbing took place, and officers were making inquiries in the area on Thursday.
He said there was nothing to suggest the incident was gang-related, and police believed the parties involved were known to each other.
Smith said there was nothing to indicate further risk to the public.
He said Wellington police were due to visit the man in hospital on Thursday.
He urged anyone with information to contact Masterton police or call 105 and quote event number 050464020.
- Information could also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
