Waikato Hospital surgeons are this afternoon trying to re-attach a finger that a 19-year-old man cut off with a band saw at work in Tauranga.

The man was flown to Waikato by the TECT Trustpower Rescue Helicopter.

Photo: File.

He man was operating the band saw at his work place when his right hand accidentally went into the saw blade, says pilot Liam Brettkelly.

The helicopter was used to get the man to Waikato Hospital quickly to increase the chances of his finger being reattached.