Bleeding man tasered in Te Kuiti

Police are defending the use of a taser gun to subdue a heavily bleeding man. Photo / Northern Advocate

A heavily bleeding man was shot with a taser stun gun in the main street of the Waikato town of Te Kuiti early this morning, after ambulance staff were unable to treat him because of his aggressive behaviour, police said.

The 36-year-old man was known to police and had a history of mental health issues, a police spokesman said.

Police were backing up ambulance officers, who had been called about an aggressive man bleeding heavily from an injured arm just after midnight.

"Not realising the man had caused himself an arterial bleed to his right arm when he had smashed a window our staff decided to use a taser in the interest of ensuring the safety of themselves and the medical staff," said Western Waikato area commander Inspector Paul Carpenter.

The man was taken to Waikato Hospital where he was due to have surgery for the injury to his arm today.

It was only when the man was in the ambulance that it became clear he had seriously injured himself.

"Doctors informed our staff that he had suffered an arterial bleed and had he not been subdued by the use of a taser in all likelihood he would have bled out," Mr Carpenter said.

Police have welcomed the introduction of the taser as a way of intervening in serious situations without the potentially fatal use of a firearm.

However, opponents believe the weapon is open to misuse because it is considered relatively low risk.

- NZPA