flanerie.org

A Marlborough arborist with a broken leg spent 95 minutes stuck in a tree, only to be airlifted by rescuers straight into another tree, giving him more cuts and bruises.

Gavin Finch, 31, of Nelmac Marlborough, was topping a large pine overlooking Picton Harbour when a branch twisted and struck him as it fell yesterday afternoon.

Police, ambulance and fire officers were unable to reach Finch, who was halfway up the 40m tree, perched on a branch.

Nelmac manager Bob Boyes said it was decided to call the Wellington-based Westpac rescue helicopter to lift Finch out.

"He was topping some pines and one of the limbs – a real gnarly one – cut back on him and caught him on the leg. Just one of those things with trees; you get the odd freaky one," Boyes said.

However, as Finch and a paramedic came free of the tree, they swung sideways into another tree.

Finch suffered more cuts and bruises from that collision, Boyes said.

Helicopter crewman Dave Greenberg said it was not the perfect rescue, but conditions were difficult.

Strong winds, nearby wires and other trees made the rescue challenging, but it would have been even more difficult to rescue him from below, Greenberg said.

Finch was flown to Blenheim's Wairau Hospital, where he was being treated for his injuries.
[from stuff.co.nz]