Surgery under way to re-attach sailor's fingers

A Nelson sailor is currently undergoing surgery to reattach four fingers he lost in an accident aboard a fishing boat last night.

The man was flown to Hutt Hospital from Nelson this morning for surgery.

Hutt Valley District Health Board spokesman David Graham said the surgery was expected to take at least seven or eight hours.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter spokesman Dave Greenberg said the 24-year-old man suffered the injuries west of Farewell Spit last night, but rescue helicopters were unable to get to the ship at the time.

"The ship reached Nelson in the early hours of this morning and the man was transported to Nelson Hospital," he said.

"Once he arrived there arrangements were made to urgently transport him to Hutt Hospital."

The man arrived at Hutt Hospital about 6am today and surgery began about 7am.

- NZPA