Hunter in flames as conforntation turns ugly

Two hunters say they feared for their lives after a man entered the hut they were staying in north of Wanganui last weekend, dousing it and one of the men with gasoline, causing him to catch fire.
Ken Elliott, who lives in Takapau, Hawke's Bay, was the top bidder at auction in February for a 500-acre bare block of farmland off Watershed Rd, 65km north of Wanganui.
The block was put up for mortgagee sale with Elders Real Estate Wanganui by Auckland-based receivers BDO Spicers after the then owner, forestry company Forest 888 Ltd, was placed in receivership.
Last month Mr Elliott signed an unconditional contract and said he paid a substantial deposit with settlement scheduled for the end of next month.
Pleased with his purchase, Mr Elliott decided to invite his good mate of 12 years, Ringo Antler of Waverley, to a weekend of hunting and tramping on the native bush block.
They unpacked their hunting equipment and supplies in a rustic hut built several years ago by other keen hunters on a tract of the block providing the only access to the otherwise land-locked property.
The tract of land is believed to be on a legal easement providing the access.
While there, a regular user of the hut, known to them only as Paul, arrived. Mr Antler stayed behind while the other two went hunting together, returning about 4.20pm.
Just before 5pm, a man and woman turned up, confronting Mr Elliott and Mr Antler about their right to be there.
"He was going on about how he owned the hut and that he wanted at least a week's notice to use the hut and the property to hunt on. He was implying he owned the property," Mr Antler said.
"We tried to tell him Ken had bought the block and the hut was on the easement and we had a right to be there.
"It was at this stage he told us he would burn the hut down.
"He went outside and came back with a container of gasoline and started pouring the gas on the porch and then inside.
"I tried to get away from him, but he cut me off at a table and threw gas on me.
"I was standing in front of the fireplace that was going. "The gas ignited straight away, and all I could see was a ball of red flame and black stuff I was on fire.
"I rushed out of the hut and put myself out and then ran back in to help Ken and Paul get some of our equipment out, including live ammunition.
"By that time, Ken and Paul had managed to put the fire out," Mr Antler said.
Fearing for their lives, they looked around for the assailant, only to discover he and his female companion had scarpered.
Suffering serious burns to his arm and thighs, Mr Antler the made his escape with the other two to a neighouring farm.
Police arrived to ferry them back to Wanganui and hospital, where Mr Antler spent the night.
Mr Elliott said the pair were confronted on the property about a week earlier by three men with firearms demanding they leave the area.
"It was scary stuff, and I usually don't get intimated easily," Mr Elliott said.
"Apart from the trauma of Saturday night, I'm also now facing losing my deposit when I signed the unconditional contract.
"Following the incident, my major backer has pulled out and I now have to find a large amount of money to cover that.
"I don't think I can. I put my life savings into it. I just don't know what's going to happen," Mr Elliott said.
Detective Constable John Gleeson of Wanganui CIB, confirmed yesterday that an investigation had been launched, but no arrests had been made at this stage.