Fair Go reporter impaled on chair

Fair Go reporter Phil Vine was injured after a piece of wood became lodged in his back when he fell off a chair. Photo / supplied

Fair Go reporter Phil Vine was in a stable condition in hospital last night after a piece of wood became lodged in his back when he fell off a chair.

Emergency services were called to the TVNZ building on the corner of Victoria and Hobson Sts, in Auckland City, shortly before 4pm yesterday.

It is understood Mr Vine was sitting outside the company's cafeteria when the accident happened.

The Herald was told that the chair he was sitting in collapsed.

Ambulance northern communications team manager Glen Taylor some kind of wood lodged in the victim's back and part of his leg

"It was a 10cm long piece of wood."

Northern fire communications shift manager Jaron Phillips said the Fire Service was called to an incident at 4pm.

"We were asked to assist ambulance, to a patient that had fallen from a chair and had some wood lodged in [his] back," Mr Phillips said.

A basket was used to lift Mr Vine from the fourth level of the building into a waiting ambulance.

Mr Phillips said Mr Vine was in a serious condition when he was rushed to Auckland City Hospital.

Last night, a hospital spokesman confirmed that a man from TVNZ was being treated in the emergency department.

However, the patient had requested that no details of his injuries be released to the media.

TVNZ spokeswoman Georgie Hills said: "We can only confirm there was an incident and that we are investigating. I will not be making any further comment."