A 12-year-old schoolgirl who fell from a track in the Karangahake Gorge was taken to hospital with suspected spinal injuries.
The Auckland girl was part of a school trip near the Karangahake Reserve when she stepped off the edge of the track, which runs along the far bank of the Ohinemuri River, about 2.30pm yesterday.
According to a woman at the scene, the girl fell down the bank but not into the water. St John emergency staff attended and placed the girl on a spinal board with suspected spinal injuries.
Paeroa volunteer firefighters carried the girl out and across the swollen river.
She was taken to Paeroa by St John Ambulance and transferred to hospital by helicopter.
