Six stitches for Sam Neill after Sundance ski disaster

Sam Neill had to get six stitches in his head after hitting a wall while skiing in Utah during his time at the Sundance Film Festival.

Sam Neill will leave the Sundance Film Festival with a sore head, and not from too much celebrating.

The actor, who plays gruff mountain man Hec in director Taika Waititi's Hunt for the Wilderpeople is in Park City, Utah, to promote the film.

But it was his offscreen antics which caused a headache.

In an unfortunate skiing accident, Neill crashed into a wall, leaving him with a wound to the noggin requiring six stitches.

He later joked on Twitter he mistook the stationary object for a "presidential candidate".

In a series of messages on the social media site he made light of the incident.

First Neill revealed a photo with co-star Julian Dennison prior to the ski fail.

"That's before I got 6 stitches in my head today. Skiing's great though," he quipped.

Julian Dennison & me talking @wilderpeople .That's before I got 6 stitches in my head today. Skiing's great though pic.twitter.com/Tnjum44t75

— Sam Neill (@TwoPaddocks) January 26, 2016

He later posted an update about his head wound putting people off their breakfast.

Might have to keep my beany on now . People seemed to be really put off their breakfast this a m. Come on ! Just a fleshwound...and blood

— Sam Neill (@TwoPaddocks) January 26, 2016

When a concerned fan asked how he'd managed to get the injury Neill gave a quick-witted response.

@ItsMargie A wall . I mistook it for a Presidential candidate .

— Sam Neill (@TwoPaddocks) January 26, 2016

- nzherald.co.nz