An elderly man found unconscious in a native forest reserve near Ngaruawahia was flown by Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition today.
The man, in his seventies, was found by passers-by alone and unconscious at the bottom of some steps of a walking track in a remote wooded area at Hakarimata Scenic Reserve.
The Westpac helicopter landed on a helipad at the top of the hill after a call-out at 9.20am. Crew walked 15 minutes into the forest to reach the man.
Intensive care flight paramedic Russell Clarke said the Hamilton man slipped on some steps on a popular walking track, suffering head and shoulder injuries.
Clarke said the man was lying in the shade of the canopy, cold, disoriented and suffering from mild hypothermia.
