Fair Go reporter impaled on chair

FAIR GO

PHIL VINE: The Fair Go reporter was impaled when his chair collapsed.

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LATEST: The TVNZ worker impaled when his chair collapsed yesterday is Fair Go reporter Phil Vine.

The experienced journalist was injured after a chair he was sitting on collapsed, leaving him impaled on a piece of wood.

TVNZ have refused to identify him, but confirmed a staff member was hospitalised yesterday after a 10cm piece of wood became lodged in his back and part of his leg.

The incident caps a rough period for the Fair Go crew after host Gordon Harcourt was assaulted while filming in Tauranga in July.

Network spokeswoman Georgie Hills said this afternoon that the man was receiving medical treatment for his injuries and "recovering well".

"The staff member involved has requested privacy. TVNZ respects his wishes and will not release further information about his condition or name him," she said.

"The wellbeing of the staff member is TVNZ's chief concern."

A hospital spokesman this morning also refused to release details.

The incident happened at TVNZ's building at the corner of Victoria and Hobson streets in central Auckland around 4pm yesterday.

Vine was taken to Auckland City Hospital.

A journalist of more than 20 years, Vine has worked in some of the most dangerous parts of the world including Afghanistan, El Salvador and Nicaragua.

In July, his colleague Harcourt suffered a black eye, bleeding nose and a suspected concussion after being allegedly attacked while filming an investigation into a used car dealer in Tauranga.

Mt Maunganui company director Alan Spiers has been charged in relation to the alleged assault.

Hills said the chair in question was "purchased from a specialist outdoor furniture supplier and is no more than two years old".

"As a precaution, TVNZ has removed all wooden outdoor chairs from its Auckland building while an investigation is conducted."

A Labour Department spokeswoman said it was aware of the accident and was making inquiries "to identify what follow-up action is appropriate". 

- © Fairfax NZ News