An experienced fisherman lost two fingers in a "freak accident" when his hand became stuck in a winch.
Kenneth Lloyd, 47, of Houhura, was one of three people on his boat off Cape Maria van Dieman, near Cape Reinga, when the incident happened on Wednesday.
Although his severed fingers were
immediately iced, it is believed they cannot be re-attached.
Houhura Police sent a team including two St John Ambulance personnel on board high-speed boat Crusader to collect Mr Lloyd.
"He was in severe pain. It was quite a clean cut, very nasty, lots of blood," said Kaitaia boatie Greg Gemmell, who owns Crusader.
Mr Gemmell said it looked as though Mr Lloyd's hand had gone right through the winch, cutting off the middle fingers of his left hand.
"He was pretty pale and shock was starting to kick in," Mr Gemmell said. "He's been boating all his life, as capable as anybody. It was just a freak accident."
Mr Lloyd's fingers were sitting in a plastic bag of ice, he said.
The Crusader arrived back at Houhura about midnight. Mr Lloyd was then flown to Middlemore Hospital by Northland's Lion Foundation Air Ambulance helicopter, which was on its first call out since becoming operational on Tuesday.
Despite Mr Lloyd's fingers being kept on ice and the quick local response, it is believed they could not be re-attached.
A Middlemore spokesman said Mr Lloyd was in a stable condition last night.
Mr Lloyd, nicknamed Lumba, had recently moved to the area with his family from Raglan.
Mr Gemmell added: "He's a strong guy and he said it's not going to stop him boating."
