A woman is recovering in hospital today after her dog accidentally bit her while playing, causing a gash above her eye.
The 22-year-old dog owner was injured around midday at her St Arnaud home, in the Nelson Lakes area.
She was assessed and the laceration treated at the scene by an intensive care paramedic before she was flown to Nelson Hospital by the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter.
Tasman District Council dog control was also dispatched to the scene but a spokesman said it was nothing more than ``purely an unfortunate accident''.
"There was nothing vicious, the dog got a little excited in play,'' the spokesman said.
Police also responded but are not investigating.
After the dog injury callout, the rescue helicopter was then immediately dispatched to a 77-year-old man with an abdominal bleed in Gore Bay, Marlborough Sounds. He also was flown to Nelson Hospital.