Injured kitesurfer stabilised

A kitesurfer who suffered serious head injuries after a gust of wind slammed him into rocks last weekend has been moved out of intensive care.

Byron Smith, 25, was kitesurfing with a friend at Lake Taupo when he was blown on to rocks near Three Mile Bay.

A witness said he landed head first on the rocks and ended up half submerged in the water.

Smith, a Taupo barista, had a severe gash to his head and was knocked unconscious. He was taken to Taupo Hospital by ambulance and then airlifted to Waikato Hospital where he was put in an induced coma in intensive care.

He was moved to the high dependency unit on Friday and a hospital spokeswoman said his condition was improving and he was in a stable condition.

There has only been one death from the sport in New Zealand and that was in 2005.