A worker whose angle grinder kicked back and gouged his face is lucky to be alive, rescuers say.
The man, in his 30s, was working at a property in Warkworth yesterday afternoon when the accident happened.
The hand grinder kicked back and struck his lower face, causing serious injuries, shortly before 3pm.
Ambulance staff raced to the scene where they dressed his injuries and administered pain medication before calling in the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust.
He was in a stable condition when he was flown to Middlemore Hospital, according to rescue chopper chief paramedic Barry Watkin.
