Girl injured after being thrown by horse

A 17-year-old girl was last night being treated for a suspected back injury after being thrown from a horse at Kariotahi Beach.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter manager Greg Brownson said the teenager, who is believed to be from Waiuku, was thrown from the horse when it reared up at 3.15pm. She was flown to Middlemore Hospital in a moderate condition.

The helicopter also came to the aid of a man who had been on board a 16m launch at Doctors Bay near Port Fitzroy, Great Barrier Island.

The man, who had been suffering back pain for 30 hours, was flown to Auckland City Hospital.