A soldier has suffered minor injuries during a training exercise at Waiouru Army Camp when a detonator exploded in his hand.
The soldier from Palmerston North's Linton Camp had surgery to remove plastic fragments from his body following Saturday's accident. The unnamed victim is expected to be discharged from hospital tomorrow and resume his duties.
He was taking part in an annual weapons training session and handling a detonator, about half the size of a ball-point pen, when it unexpectedly exploded in his hand, Linton spokesman Paul Stein told the Manawatu Standard.
The soldier was treated at the Waiouru army medical centre before being taken to Palmerston North Hospital for surgery.
Training with the detonators stopped and they would not be used again until the army discovered what happened, Mr Stein said.
He said the accident was completely different to the death of Flight Sergeant Andrew Forster, who was killed by an artillery shell explosion north of Waiouru two months ago.
The Ohakea-based serviceman with 27 years experience drove a stake into the ground to mark the location of a shell, but was killed instantly when it unexpectedly detonated.
