An East Coast forestry worker is in a serious condition at Gisborne Hospital after being struck by a falling tree yesterday in a forest inland from Tolaga Bay.
The accident happened late in the morning in a block at the end of the Tauwhareparae Road.
The ECT rescue helicopter was sent to the forest just before midday yesterday and had to use a tricky hovering technique involving touching down on a tree stump to uplift the injured man from the steep terrain.
"The 38-year-old injured man suffered injuries to his chest and one of his shoulders," a rescue helicopter spokeswoman said.
He was assessed initially in the emergency department, then admitted to the intensive care unit.
"The man is in a serious condition but he is stable," a hospital spokeswoman said.
A rescue helicopter spokeswoman said the extremely steep terrain had been cleared and the man was hover-loaded into the aircraft.
"The chopper unloaded the paramedic while hovering with one skid on a tree stump.
"When the team was ready, the chopper returned to the same spot and the patient was loaded in the same manner, with the help of one of his workmates.
"Hover-loading is something the chopper team trains on regularly, not just with St John, but with LandSAR as well," she said.
"It's an incredibly important skill given the nature of our terrain."
- From the Gisborne Herald
