Tauranga man severs finger at work

A Tauranga teen has been flown to hospital after severing a finger while operating a saw blade.

The 19-year-old was had been operating a band saw at this workplace when his hand accidentally went into the blade.

The Tauranga based Trustpower TECT Rescue helicopter flew him from Tauranga Hospital to Waikato Hospital for surgery to reattach the finger on his right hand.

Pilot Liam Brettkelly said the helicopter was used to get the man to Waikato hospital quickly to increase the chance of his finger being reattached.