Greymouth mine worker in serious condition

A mine worker hurt in an accident at Reefton's Terrace coal mine was in a serious condition in Christchurch Hospital after he was flown there for an operation.

The miner, 24, from Rapahoe, was hurt on Tuesday when he was driving a front-end loader near the mine's entrance.

An Occupational Safety and Health spokesman declined to say what had caused the accident. But family sources said they understood the man was thrown from the vehicle after it struck a steel pit-prop.