Fisherman injured in plunge

A Castlepoint fisherman has been flown to Wellington Hospital with serious injuries after falling up to three metres from rocks into churning seas about midday yesterday.

Colin Larsen, Life Flight Trust Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman, said the man was aged in his 50s and had received multiple injuries when he fell while fishing.

He said bystanders saw the man fall from rocks into the sea, where he remained for up to 30 minutes before crew aboard a fishing boat plucked him from the water and took him ashore.

"The water around the rocks was described by locals as being like a washing machine," Mr Larsen said.