Man 'attacked by a cow' flown to hospital

A 50-year-old man has been airlifted to hospital this afternoon after being "attacked by a cow".

The Tauranga based Trustpower TECT Rescue helicopter was dispatched to Opotiki where the local man had been attacked by a cow.

The farmer and his wife were working in the yards with a mob of cows when one attacked the man, a rescue helicopter statement said.

"He received serious chest injuries in the attack, the cow attacked him three times."

St John ambulance staff picked up the man from his property and drove him to the Opotiki airfield to meet the Trustpower TECT Rescue helicopter.

The helicopter was sent because of the time critical nature of the injuries, he was flown to Whakatane hospital in a moderate condition.