Original article by Otago Daily Times
A Port Otago deckhand was seriously injured in a workplace fall yesterday afternoon.
Port Otago chief executive Kevin Winders said the deckhand on a pilot boat was preparing a ladder to allow a maritime pilot to climb aboard an oil tanker.
During that process, the deckhand, who was tethered to the pilot boat, fell backwards on to the boat and hurt his back, Mr Winders said.
Port Otago staff took the man to Careys Bay where he was met by emergency services staff and transported to Dunedin Hospital.
Maritime New Zealand had been notified of the incident, and the port company would work with the government agency during the course of any investigation, Mr Winders said.
"Obviously, our focus at the moment is looking after our team member, and then we’ll be working through an investigation, and work through the root cause, and understand what’s happened."
A St John spokeswoman said it was notified of the incident and attended the scene about 3.45pm.
St John sent one ambulance and transported one patient to Dunedin Hospital in a serious condition, the spokeswoman said.
