Shooting accidents leave two men injured

Two men are being treated in hospital after shooting themselves accidents over the weekend.

A 40-year-old man shot himself in the backside with a rifle in Te Kopuru, 13km southeast of Dargaville, yesterday afternoon.

It is understood that the gun went off after he placed it on the back seat of his car.

He was taken to Northland Base Hospital with serious injuries, a St John Ambulance spokesman said. His condition not known this morning.

Last night, the Taupo-based Youthtown Trust rescue helicopter was called out to the intersection of Te Toki Road and State Highway 5, 5km outside Taupo after a 48-year-old man shot himself in the foot.

He was treated by St John advanced paramedics and flown to Waikato Hospital.

- NZPA