A Christchurch man who lost his arm in a woodchipper's conveyor belt this week called his partner fearing he was going to die during the ordeal.
The father of three, who did not want to be named, was working at a greenwaste plant near Motukarara when the accident occurred, around 4pm on Tuesday.
During the accident, he called his partner - before dialling 111 - saying "I'm f*****, I'm f*****, I'm sorry and I love you", a friend of the man told The Press.
The man only survived because his trapped arm stopped the conveyor belt from working, The Press reported.
He was trapped for about two hours before emergency services pulled him free, and was flown to Christchurch Hospital where he underwent surgery to remove his arm.
