Forestry worker survives 30m fall

A Masterton forestry worker survived a fall of more than 30 metres down a ravine while spraying pine trees in the Wairarapa today.

The 27-year-old man, who received a broken leg and possible head injuries, was winched from the gully floor by the crew of the Wellington-based Westpac rescue helicopter.

"It is quite amazing that the man survived a fall of that distance," helicopter crewman Dave Greenberg said.

"He was a bit confused as to exactly what happened but he said the fall was over 100 feet and he didn't remember hitting much on the way down."

The man was part of a group working about 2km east of Tuturumuri, 31km south of Martinborough, when he slipped into the gully, eventually landing in a creek at the bottom, Mr Greenberg said.

- NZPA