KEY POINTS:
An arborist could be forgiven for being sick of trees, after he broke his leg in a 40-metre tree, and was banged against another while being rescued by helicopter.
Marlborough man Gavin Finch, 31, is in a stable condition in Wairau Hospital in Blenheim.
Westpac rescue helicopter spokesman Dave Greenberg said Mr Finch had been near the top of the tree when the accident happened.
"Apparently one of the man's safety lines got caught up in a falling branch, causing (him) to be thrown over the top of another branch and then fracturing his leg as he hit a third branch," Mr Greenberg said.
Police, ambulance and fire officers tried in vain to reach him from the ground, before rescuers decided to airlift him.
A paramedic was winched down and once Mr Finch was in a rescue harness his safety lines were released, with both men winched into the helicopter.
But it wasn't all smooth sailing.
Mr Greenberg told The Press newspaper that Mr Finch had suffered extra cuts and bruises after he was swung into a second tree while being lifted out of the first.
High winds and surrounding trees and power lines meant it had not been an easy rescue, Mr Greenberg said.
- NZPA
