Boy survives 20m fall down cliff

A 13-year-old boy survived a fall down a cliff after running out the back door of an abandoned house.

Wayde Penetito's parents and rescue officials are astounded that Wayde survived the 20m fall at Whatarangi, near Cape Palliser in Wairarapa, on Saturday without life-threatening injuries.

He is in Wellington Hospital with two fractured vertebrae, a fracture at the bottom of his skull and grazes all over.

"My back's sore and my neck's sore, my face is sore, my leg's sore," he told the Dominion Post newspaper.

Wayde, along with the family dogs, was exploring the house, which had been abandoned due to severe erosion of the cliff, when he heard voices and thought he was going to get in trouble.

He opened a sliding door and stepped out into thin air, not realising until too late there was only a small concrete ridge between the door and the cliff.

His mother, Sharon Isaac said she and Wayde's father were alerted by neighbours, and people on the beach stayed with the boy.

"I'm amazed he's actually still here," she said.

Ruth Zeinert, of the Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter, was stunned when she saw where the incident had taken place.

"It is quite incredible that he appears to have gotten away without life-threatening injuries," she said.

The helicopter was called just after 10.30am and had the boy, along with his mother, to the Wellington Hospital Emergency Department by 11.30am.

- NZPA