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Man rescued from tree, chopper swings him into another

Another story from New Zealand today, this time reminiscent of a scene from The Simpsons. Arborist Gavin Finch was working in a large pine tree when a branch twisted and struck him as it fell. Police, ambulance and fire officers were unable to reach Finch, who was perched on a branch halfway up the 40m-high tree. Thus it was decided that a rescue helicopter should be called.

However, as Finch and a paramedic came free of the tree, they swung sideways into another tree. Finch suffered more cuts and bruises from that collision, according to police at the scene. In one of those displays of understatement that New Zealanders seem to be particularly good at, helicopter crewman Dave Greenberg said: “It was not the perfect rescue.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .