Man dies after nail gun accident

A 31-year-old man died in Hawke's Bay Hospital after shooting himself with a nail gun.

A Hawke's Bay man who shot himself in the chest with a nail gun yesterday has died.

The 31-year-old was airlifted to hospital with a punctured lung following the incident at a Waipukurau rural property yesterday afternoon.

It is believed the man was accidentally injured while he was building on a rural property at Hatuma.

He was seriously injured, and died in Hawke's Bay Hospital this morning, a hospital spokeswoman said.

"The family have requested complete privacy, and have asked that the media not contact them or their extended family so they can be allowed time to grieve," she said.

His death has been referred to the coroner.

- APNZ