German tourist Michael Erdtmann says he won't forget the sight of the dead bodies he saw in crushed cars after yesterday's earthquake.

German tourist Michael Erdtmann is haunted by the image of the dead bodies he saw in crushed cars after yesterday's earthquake.

''We were marking crushed cars, they gave me a hard hat and spray can and a helmet,'' Edrtmann said.

''I found six bodies in a bus and eight in cars.''

Erdtmann was on the second floor of the Frienz Hostel on Worcester St when the magnitude 6.3 quake struck Christchurch shortly before 1pm.

He said he ran outside and immediately offered help.

"I got outside of the building and then I bumped into some people and said 'do you need help'.''

When The Press spoke to him this morning, Erdtmann said was still ''running on adrenaline''.

"It has not sunk in yet, I still have the impression of when I saw the dead bodies.''

Erdtmann has been in Christchurch for five months and was in the process of applying for a working visa.

His passport was with immigration, but he said he wanted to stay in the city.

He spent last night in the Ellerslie Flower Show tent in Hagley Park, surrounded by fellow tourists.