KEY POINTS:
A New Plymouth man, who lost his legs in a workplace accident last month, enjoyed a "big day out" yesterday after a fundraising event was put on for him.
Ben Hekenui's legs were severed below the knee when he became trapped in a baling machine at a Taranaki recycling plant.
The 36-year-old fell down a chute and into the cardboard compacting machine and was caught by the rammer at the bottom.
Yesterday, the Taranaki rugby league community put on an event at Hickford Park in New Plymouth to raise funds for Mr Hekenui, who was a keen league player, and his family.
Wheelchair bound Mr Hekenui, who was released from hospital for the day, said he enjoyed his "big day out".
It was "unbelievable" what people had done for him, he told the Taranaki News.
Around 1000 were at the park to watch a fund-raising match between an invitational side from Mr Hekenui's club, the Bell Block Marist Dragons, and a Taranaki invitation team made up of representative players.
The Dragons', made up of Mr Hekenui's family and friends, won the game, with Mr Hekenui scoring a "try" after he was carried between the posts by players.
An after-match auction finished the fundraising efforts.
- NZPA
