Man critically injured in Lion Nathan accident

Photo / File

Two investigations have been launched after a man was critically injured while he was working at Lion Nathan's manufacturing facility in Auckland.

He remains in a critical but stable condition at Middlemore Hospital today.

The man, in his 40s, was injured while operating packaging machinery at a Lion Nathan facility in East Tamaki last night.

An ambulance spokesman said the man had been freed from the machine when they arrived, but was unconscious and had difficulty breathing, Newstalk ZB reported.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's MBIE's Health and Safety Group was alerted to the incident and a safety inspector visited the scene last night, a spokesman said. An investigation has been launched.

Lion Nathan spokeswoman Liz Read said the company had also undertaken an inquiry into the incident and was working with ministry officials.

The man's condition was serious but improving, which was "really positive news'', she said.

"We understand he is responding well to the treatment he's getting.''

The spokeswoman would not elaborate on the type and extent of the man's injuries for privacy reasons.

"Obviously, we're devastated by the accident. Right now our priority is, especially, to look after our team member and his family, and also to support the team he works with.

"Obviously that's our first priority, and alongside that is to work with the investigation to find out how this happened.''