Chch mayor undergoes surgery for quake injury

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker cracked his ribs and injuried his back during the devastating February quake. Photo / Greg Bowker

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker has undergone surgery to repair an injury he sustained in the February 22 quake.

Mr Parker was in the Christchurch City Council offices when the 6.3 magnitude quake struck and was tossed into the air landing on the edge of a table, cracking his ribs and injuring his back, The Press reported.

"It was just like being slammed by a freight train," he said afterwards.

Jo Nicholls-Parker said her husband had back surgery two years ago to remove spinal fluid on a nerve.

"He already had a weakness in his back and then he...cracked some ribs in the quake, so it made it rupture again."

- NZPA