Thirty-six people were involved in a collision between a bus and a car in the Otira Gorge on January 1.

A Christchurch businessman who was called in to help translate for the victims of last week's bus crash at Otira also paid for some of their medical bills.

The owner of Sampan restaurants in Christchurch and Greymouth, Yu Ouyang, said he was called by the victims' Auckland tour company to help translate for the crash victims.

The bus carrying 32 Chinese tourists crashed in the Otira Gorge, near Arthur's Pass, after colliding with a car carrying three Swiss nationals on January 1.

Of the victims, eight were either airlifted or driven to Christchurch Hospital, eight were taken to Grey Base Hospital, and 15 were taken to Greymouth on a bus organised by police. The Christchurch-based bus driver had only minor cuts and bruises and did not need treatment.

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Ouyang said he helped the Chinese people at Grey Base Hospital and those not admitted.

"They asked me to help them at the hospital so I went there and did anything I could do. They needed someone to translate for the doctors and I helped them go to x-ray and even paid the bill," he said.

Some of those not admitted to hospital were in shock and had minor injuries, including bruises and cuts.

He took 15 people to the emergency on-call doctor at Greymouth's Rural Academic General Practice (RAGP).

"They were told they had to pay $120 each but they had no money and all their bags were on the bus. They couldn't leave until they paid so I paid $1800. The travel company will pay me back."

Some of the tourists were upset and angry, he said. The tour company had arranged for them to stay at a hotel in Greymouth but the hotel's kitchen was closed.

"They hadn't eaten all the day since breakfast in Christchurch, they had no lunch and were starving. They were getting angry and hungry and I wanted to make them happy so I brought them back to my restaurant and fed everybody no problem," he said.

West Coast District Health Board chief executive David Meates said the patients had been treated and cleared at the crash scene and it "was at their request" that they went to the RAGP for further assessment.

"It is standard practice for a routine medical appointment (such as these) with foreign nationals to be asked to pay before they have their appointments. RAGP staff were told at the time that the Chinese consulate or tour company would reimburse the businessman."

Five passengers returned to the RAGP the following day to have their dressings changed at no extra charge.

Meates said the RAGP and hospital staff involved "managed a very difficult emergency situation with real professionalism".

"Many stayed late to provide extra care and reassurance. We are proud of the team effort," he said.

The eight patients initially sent to Greymouth had all either been transferred to Christchurch, or discharged.

Six Chinese and two Swiss nationals were still in Christchurch Hospital, including one man who remained in a serious condition in intensive care.

Three others were stable, and the remaining four were comfortable.

The Swiss embassy in Wellington confirmed it was helping the Swiss family involved.