A "gutsy" New Zealand police officer attacked by six machete-wielding men in the Solomon Islands jungle managed to escape by dousing them with pepper spray.
Constable Chris Renata, of Auckland, had his leg slashed in the attack, which happened yesterday while he was visiting a jungle medical clinic, 4km from his station at Avu Avu on the isolated southern coast of Guadalcanal.
Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands spokeswoman Mary Louise O'Callaghan said Mr Renata had been leaving the clinic when he was attacked by the gang, which included alleged murderer Alphonseus Toghovotu.
"He was able to use capsicum spray to subdue them and then he jumped on his quad bike... He was pretty gutsy, considering... his injuries," she told the Dominion Post.
Mr Renata is the second New Zealand police officer to be injured in the line of duty in less than a month. An officer was left badly bruised after a stone-throwing mob tried to free another suspected murderer.
The unnamed officer and an Australian colleague saved themselves and two local policemen by firing warning shots before a helicopter plucked them to safety. Their prisoner escaped. Superintendent Stu Wildon, in Wellington, said that although Mr Renata's injury was serious, it was not life-threatening, and he had been flown to Honiara for surgery. The other officer stationed with Mr Renata at the jungle outpost was not caught up in the attack.
"Police reinforcements and military support have been sent to the area to search for and apprehend the offenders.
"Most importantly, though, we are just very relieved that Constable Renata's injuries are not more serious than they are," Mr Wildon said.
New Zealand has about 35 police officers on duty in the Solomons.
