Reginald John Dixon On 9 June 1995 , Mr Dixon , aged 47 , and his wife were passengers on Ansett New Zealand Flight 703 when the aircraft crashed in the Tararua Ranges near Palmerston North . Mr Dixon escaped from the wreckage with fractures . However , despite his injuries , he returned to the aircraft to help other passengers trapped in the wreckage . As a result of this selfless action , he was critically burned when a flash fire broke out on the left wing of the aircraft near a hole in the fuselage from which he was helping passengers escape . He was hospitalised and underwent surgery and skin grafts . Mr Dixon remained in a coma , and although he made some initial improvement , his condition worsened and he died two weeks later , the fourth victim of the crash . The situation in which Mr Dixon found himself was extremely dangerous and he displayed great bravery in returning to the aircraft , although injured , to help other passengers which subsequently resulted in the loss of his own life . His bravery undoubtedly ensured that the loss of life was not greater
Ansett New Zealand Flight 703
Ansett New Zealand Flight 703
New Zealand Cross (1999)