Surgery for crashed glider pilot

A glider pilot who crash landed on an electric fence in Waikato yesterday will have surgery this morning.

The 56-year-old Masterton man received a shock from the electric fence and suffered burns and nerve damage to his neck and one side of his body after crashing in a paddock in Kaikahu Rd in Kerepehi, 18km north-west of Paeroa, about 4pm.

Police northern communications duty operations commander Inspector Lou Alofa said emergency services freed the man about 6.30pm and he was flown to Waikato Hospital.

Waikato Hospital spokeswoman Mary Anne Gill said the man had a "comfortable night" in a ward and was in a stable condition.

He had suffered orthopaedic injuries and would have surgery this morning, she said.

- NZPA