Man airlifted after cutting himself with chainsaw

A Wairarapa farmer will require plastic surgery after being cut in the face by his own chainsaw yesterday.

The incident occurred when the 47-year-old man was cutting firewood on his farm in Rakaunui, about 105km north of Masterton.

The man was cutting firewood on his farm when the chainsaw kicked back and hit him in the face while the chain was still moving.

He lost a tooth and suffered a major laceration to his face in the incident. He was treated by St John Ambulance staff before being airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital by the Square Trust Rescue Helicopter.

The farmer was later transferred onto Hutt Hospital's plastic surgery unit for further treatment, a spokesman for the helicopter said.

- NZPA