Hand caught in splitter

A Tauranga man is recovering in Nelson Hospital after splitting his hand open while using a mechanical wood splitter.

The 33-year-old was airlifted to hospital by the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter about 1pm on Saturday.

The rescue helicopter pilot said the man was at a friend's house in Savill Bay in the Marlborough Sounds, using a hydraulic log splitter when he caught his left hand underneath a log and ''squashed it and split it open''.

''It was pretty bad, there was a lot of blood, the pilot said.

The man was treated at the scene by the helicopter's onboard intensive care paramedics.