Ivan Milat

[Disease]

Serial killer Ivan Milat has been rushed to hospital after cutting off his little finger and attempting to mail it to the High Court of Australia.

Milat was taken to Goulburn Hospital for surgery to reattach the finger, a NSW Department of Corrective Services spokeswoman said.

The 64-year-old, who is serving a life sentence at the Supermax facility inside Goulburn jail for the murder of seven backpackers, seemed calm after severing his finger inside his cell and did not exhibit any symptoms of shock, senior prison officers said.

Milat "cut off the little finger on his left hand and placed it in an envelope he had addressed to the High Court of Australia, which he handed to a prison officer during lock-up time, around 3.30pm (AEDT) today", a Corrective Services statement said.

Four extreme high risk escort officers have accompanied Milat to Goulburn Base Hospital.

He was handcuffed, shackled and attached to a monitoring device.

Medical staff were unable to say whether the severed finger, which has been placed on ice, could be saved.

An investigation has been launched into the incident.

NSW Commissioner for Corrective Services Ron Woodham said Milat would still die in jail.

[Disease]

I wonder how many staff at Goulbourn Base Hospital have seen Halloween 2....