Person dies after being trapped in a potato harvester

A harvester at the scene. Photo / Jason Oxenham

A person has died after becoming trapped in a potato harvester near Pukekohe.

The accident happened at a Settlement Rd, near Puni, shortly before 1pm today.

Police and emergency services at the scene near Pukekohe. Photo / Jason Oxenham

A tractor and attached harvesting machine are sitting in a large field of potatoes beside Settlement Rd, surrounded by police cars, fire engines and an ambulance.

A Settlement Rd resident told the Herald he saw firefighters lying down looking up underneath the harvesting machine when he drove by earlier.

The man said workers at the potato farm had gone and only emergency services were on scene.

WorkSafe has been advised of the accident.

- additonal reporting Martin Johnson