A man injured in a paragliding accident was airlifted from a paddock in Waihi on Saturday.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter responded to an ambulance callout at 2:23pm on Saturday after a 40-year-old man was injured when his chute hit an air pocket and he fell approximately six metres.
The man crashed in a paddock and landed heavily on his feet, before rolling onto his back. He stood after the incident, but felt immediate pain and witnesses called emergency services.
"He was taken to hospital to check up on his spine, just given the fact that he slammed down on the ground on his feet," a Westpac Rescue Helicopter spokeswoman said.
Fire services were also called to the scene to prepare a landing zone for the helicopter, where some livestock had to be moved to clear space.
The man was transported to Waikato Hospital in a moderate condition, where he was checked for spinal injuries, a spokeswoman for Westpac Rescue Helicopter said.
