Man seriously injures hand in hay feeder

Photo / Thinkstock

A man suffered serious injuries when his hand was caught in a hay feeder in rural Southland this morning.

Fire appliances from Waikaia and Lumsden were called to the Hurley Rd property, following reports the man had his hand caught in a hay feeder, about 9am.

On arrival volunteer firefighters called a local Riversdale contractor to the scene, who used a gas cutter to help free the man's hand.

"It takes a bit of guts to say they didn't have the right gear, and to call someone else," a Fire Service spokesman said.

"That made all the difference."

The injured man was later flown to Dunedin Hospital with severe injuries to his hand.