Having survived two head-on collisions while driving in the space of two months, sales manager Scott Bowman was prompted to buy a lottery ticket.
The 40-year-old Oxford resident spent a week in Dunedin Hospital from October 10, when he was airlifted by the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter from the Kawarau Gorge near Cromwell.
Mr Bowman was seriously injured when his car collided with another on State Highway 6 near the Goldfields Jet complex.
He contacted the Otago Daily Times wanting to thank all those who helped in his rescue and recovery.
"I can't praise them all enough. Everyone was fantastic. The members of the public, rescue services and medical team made what could have been something a lot more serious a lot more comfortable," he said.
Mr Bowman was driving from Cromwell to Queenstown about 5.30pm when an oncoming female driver lost control on a bend, her car got caught in shingle and overcorrected, he said.
"She ended up shooting across the road and didn't have time to react or anywhere to go.
It was just one of those unfortunate incidents and I was in the wrong place at the wrong time," Mr Bowman said.
He "got free" of airbags and saw smoke pouring through vents on his dashboard and flames escaping the bonnet, which prompted a hasty exit through the front passenger door.
Mr Bowman tried to stand but a shattered ankle, compound fracture in his leg and broken sternum prevented it.
He and the female driver, also seriously injured, were flown to hospital where Mr Bowman immediately underwent surgery on his ankle.
During his week in Dunedin Hospital Mr Bowman was visited by the female driver.
"She apologised, which I think took a lot of courage and I have a lot of respect for her. An accident is an accident. There was no alcohol involved. It was just a bit of bad luck," he said.
Police are investigating the incident.
Mr Bowman will be off work for about four months but is happy to be alive, especially after a similar near-death experience two months ago near Havelock. The car in front of his collided with an oncoming vehicle, causing a four-car crash.
"What gobsmacked everyone is I walked away from that, then this happened. It's the first lot of accidents I've had in about 15 years and by the nature of my job I drive about 80,000km a year," he said.
Mr Bowman would be back behind the wheel as soon as possible.
He enjoyed driving the "magnificent" Kawarau Gorge every couple of months and was looking forward to having a new vehicle.
"You have to look for the positives in life," he said.
• The Wanaka man who spent a night in his car over a bank in the Kawarau Gorge a week ago is now in an open ward at Dunedin Hospital.
The 29-year-old Japanese man had spent a night in his car with serious injuries last Wednesday before two Fulton Hogan workers found him on Thursday morning and he was flown to Dunedin Hospital.
