Burnt man drives 8km for help

Volunteer Featherston firefighters help Life Flight Trust paramedics and flight crew load a burned man in to the waiting Westpac rescue helicopter.

A Wairarapa farm worker suffering severe burns from an oven fire while cooking on Saturday drove nearly 8km in agonising pain to the Featherston Post Shop for help.

The man, in his 20s, was seen in a T-shirt and shorts sobbing and crying in pain and being comforted by several staff from both Featherston Lotto and Post and Gusto Cafe and Bakery on Fitzherbert St, shortly after 1.30pm.

Staff poured buckets of water over his back and feet, immersed his hands in water and soaked him with wet towels.

The Featherston Volunteer Fire Brigade, which was first on the scene, praised the staff for their quick thinking in cooling the man's injuries.

The man was taken by Wellington Free Ambulance to Featherston's Alexander Park and transferred to Life Flight's Westpac Rescue helicopter, still in obvious pain.

He was flown to Hutt Hospital.

Featherston fire chief Colin McKenna said it appeared the man had possibly spilled liquid on himself while cooking at an electric oven, and the liquid may have caught fire.

Mr McKenna went to the house in Western Lake Rd, finding evidence of a fire which was extinguished.

"It's obvious he's spilled liquid on the floor."

Mr McKenna said police are involved.

A man and a woman, who accompanied the victim to the helicopter, would not comment to the Times-Age.

A road worker, who didn't want to be named, said the man was "shaking" as the staff soaked him down.

Gusto cafe manager Gina Richards said the man appeared in "terrible shock".

"He was badly burned, he couldn't say anything, he was so badly burned.

"We got buckets straightaway."

Featherston senior station officer Lee McKenna said the shop staff "did a fantastic job of minimising his injuries.

"We're very thankful to the help provided to him."

Life Flight crewman Logan Taylor said the man was "in a bit of pain" but in a stable condition during the flight.