Woman dies after lawnmower rolls on top of her

The woman was on a ride-on lawnmower when it appears to have gone down a bank and into a creek. File photo

A Whangarei woman has died after police say she was trapped in a creek by a mower rolling on top of her.

Police, the Fire Service and ambulance were called to a property on Three Mile Bush Rd, Kamo, about 2.45pm today after reports of a lawnmower accident.

Sergeant Mark Andrews, of Whangarei police, said the 69-year-old woman was dead when emergency services arrived at the large private property.

Fire crews from Kamo and Whangarei, backed by the Fire Service support unit attended.

Mr Andrews said while the exact circumstances of the accident were still being investigated, the woman was on a large ride-on lawnmower when it appears to have gone about 10 metres down a fairly steep bank, before going a further five metres into a creek.

He said it appears the mower then landed on its side on top of the woman, pinning her underneath.

Mr Andrew said the large mower was lifted from the creek using a tow truck winch.

Police will be investigating the death on behalf of the coroner.

No further details of the circumstances of the death or the identity of the victim were available, with the name likely to be released today after next of kin had been informed.

National health and safety body WorkSafe NZ had not been notified about the death by edition time yesterday.

"Of course that doesn't mean we won't be at some stage - but so far we have not been notified and so have no knowledge or involvement," a WorkSafe spokesman said.

It is the second fatal lawnmower accident in just over a week.

Peter Ross Bailey, known as Ross Bailey, died when he was pinned under his ride-on lawnmower in a small creek on his rural Taranaki property on October 25.

- Additional reporting: Northern Advocate