South Otago man falls 5m from tree

A Benhar man who fell about 5m from a tree he was pruning yesterday was flown by the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter to Dunedin Hospital with suspected chest injuries.

Volunteer fire crews, St John and police from Balclutha ferried the man to the helicopter.

They were called to prepare a landing site for the helicopter and stabilise the man, thought to be in his 30s, after he fell near Benhar Rd about 4pm.

St John team leader Graham Harvey, of Balclutha, said the man was conscious when the ambulance arrived.

He was not sure of the extent of the man's injuries, and said the helicopter had been called because the height the man had fallen from gave them cause for concern.

The man was being assessed at Dunedin Hospital last night.