A 71-year-old man has been hit on the head by a flying dinghy, and has been rushed to hospital.
The 14-foot alloy dinghy with an outboard motor was parked on a beach in the Abel Tasman National Park today when it became airborne in high winds and hit the Takaka man, who was walking on the beach.
The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter was called to Torrent Bay about 4.45pm and flew the man to Nelson Hospital.
He suffered potentially serious injuries, and bystanders cared for him at the scene until the helicopter arrived.
