Man dies in skateboard accident

A 41-year-old man is dead after a ''freak'' accident on a motorised skateboard in Havelock, north of Blenheim.

Havelock Volunteer Fire Brigade chief fire officer Alan Stanford said the man had been skating down a hill on Mahakipawa Rd at about 8pm last night on an American style, motorised skateboard when he lost control.

''He got into some dirt and flipped the skateboard. This flipped him on to the concrete and he hit the back of his head,'' said Mr Stanford.

''It was pretty unreal really.''

He said emergency services tried to revive the man, but he died at the scene.

Blenheim and Havelock St John Ambulance, Havelock Volunteer Fire Brigade and police attended.

- The Marlborough Express