Severed fingers found on street

Tamlyn Stewart | 11th March 2010

Rotorua police delivered two severed fingers to Rotorua Hospital yesterday after a teenager was injured trying to fix the motorcycle he had been riding.

Police say the Rotorua teenager lost two of his fingers when he tried to repair his motorcycle on the side of the road yesterday.

Acting Senior Sergeant Andrew Lynch of the Rotorua police said the 16-year-old was riding his motorcycle on Bell Rd, Western Heights, about 10am yesterday when the chain of the motorcycle came off the sprockets.

As the teenager attempted to put the chain back on, the motorcycle somehow jumped into gear and two of his fingers were cut off.

It appeared the teenager ran off immediately to get help, leaving his severed fingers behind.

He was taken to hospital either by family members or members of the public.

Police were called to the scene of the incident and were helped by members of the public who were able to direct them to where the fingers were.

The police officers then took them to Rotorua Hospital in the hope the fingers could be re-attached.

They were severed from the second knuckle down, Mr Lynch said. The teenager's condition was unavailable late yesterday afternoon.