AN ELDERLY man was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery after he was knocked into a stormwater drain in a hit and run incident.
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The 79-year-old man was walking along a nature strip on Villiers Street, Mayfield about 3.30pm Sunday when a Holden Nova lost control and mounted the grass.
"He was struck and somehow projected into the stormwater drain where he ended up rolling to the bottom by the water," the 79-year-old man's son said.
The driver, 17, left the scene. A group of children and neighbouring residents came to the man's aid. He suffered fractured ribs, a punctured lung, cuts and abrasions in the incident. He was treated by paramedics at the scene before he was taken to John Hunter Hospital, where he underwent surgery.
He is now recovering and is expected to remain in hospital under observation.
"Had it been high tide he surely would have drowned," the man's son said.
"Our family would like to express our sincere thanks to the group of children who discovered my father in the drain and quickly alerted a nearby adult."
Family members took to social media to appeal for the public's help to find the driver.
The 17-year-old later attended Waratah Police Station where he was arrested and charged with five offences, including dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, fail to stop and assist after vehicle impact occasioning grievous bodily harm, cause bodily harm by misconduct and negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.
He was refused bail to face a Children's Court.
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