Hokitika councillor's brush with death after freak lawnmower accident 15 Jan, 2021 09:11 PM 5 minutes to read Westland district councillor Latham Martin, of Hokitika, is recovering from emergency surgery after an accident while cutting grass. Photo / Hokitika Guardian Westland district councillor Latham Martin, of Hokitika, is recovering from emergency surgery after an accident while cutting grass. Photo / Hokitika Guardian Other By: Helen Murdoch A Hokitika councillor who needed 31 blood transfusions, whose partner and parents were told he might not survive, and who had surgeons flown from Wellington to Te Nikau Hospital in Greymouth to support local doctors treating him after a freak lawnmower incident is counting his lucky stars. Helen Murdoch reports.