The ambulance service says the ordeal suffered by a meatworker impaled through his head on an animal hook was horrific. It took an hour and half to remove it.
Emergency services were called to the Affco meat works near Te Puke in Bay of Plenty just after 7pm last night.
After an hour-and-a-half long ordeal, firefighters managed to free the man impaled by the hook of an animal carcass spreader.
Ambulance spokesperson Norm Ngatai said the hook had gone through the back of the man's head and come out through his cheek.
Mr Ngatai said although the man was seriously injured, he was conscious and talking the whole time.
The man, believed to be in his 40s, is in a moderate condition at Tauranga Hospital.
WorkSafe New Zealand is investigating how it happened.
