The Rotorua based BayTrust Rescue helicopter was dispatched to mountain bike tracks in the Whakarewarewa Forest near Rotorua at 2pm yesterday afternoon.
A 40-year-old Auckland man was mountain biking near the Pipeline track when he suffered a serious fall from his bike which resulted in suspected spinal injuries.
A St John Ambulance was dispatched to help initially but called for the helicopter as it was thought he may need to be winched from the site.
The helicopter was able to land close to the Ambulance at a skid site where the patient was loaded aboard the helicopter.
The man was airlifted to Rotorua Hospital in a comfortable condition.