Fall victim talks to bungy firm from bed

The Sydney woman who fell head-first off a bungy cord into an icy river has spoken to the tourist operator from hospital.

Kirsty Moulder, 39, was on holiday with her partner when she took the 35m drop off Ferry Bridge into Canterbury's Waiau River on Friday.

She was flown to Christchurch Hospital with serious injuries and is now in a stable condition.

Blair Hartland, spokesman for Thrillseekers Adventures, which owns the bungy jump operation, said Ms Moulder was well enough to speak to its managing director. "I believe she was reasonably coherent."

The family have asked for privacy and the hospital is not giving any details while she recovers.

It is understood Ms Moulder's injuries included a fractured arm and injured spleen.

Paramedic Dean Brown said she was lucky to be alive, given the height from which she fell.

Ms Moulder had jumped and was being flung skyward for the second time when the bungy appeared to come loose and she plummeted.

She was plucked from the icy current by a support boat and taken to the riverbank.

"She sustained chest and arm injuries to her left side, which took the brunt of the impact into the river," Mr Brown told One News.

"It sounds like she hit a rock under the water as well."

All bungy operations at the Hanmer site have been suspended while the Department of Labour investigates.

Mr Hartland expected the department's inquiries to take another couple of days and said the jetboating and quad-bike ventures would probably start up again today.

Westpac rescue helicopter spokesman Stuart Farquhar said Ms Moulder was conscious but "in some state of shock" when staff picked her up.

Her partner rode in the front of the helicopter while she was treated and given pain relief in the back, he said.

"We don't want to see a partner watching their partner get really sick in the helicopter, which could happen," Mr Farquhar said. "But you still want them to be close and to listen to what they're saying."

It was the first bungy jumping accident he had attended in 11 years working for the Westpac rescue helicopter.

Mr Hartland said bungy jumping had been running at Hanmer Springs for 20 years, but Thrillseekers had taken over in October and had had no accidents.

The Thrillseekers website warns prospective bungy jumpers about "elements of risk" and says participants "do so voluntarily and at their own risk".