Mountaineer, rafter flown to hospital

The Tongariro River. Photo / Destination Lake Taupo

Two people have been flown to Rotorua Hospital following separate climbing and rafting accidents in the central North Island today.

A 50-year-old mountaineer was hurt about midday when he was hit by a "large" boulder on Mt Ruapehu, climbing with two others by the Mangatoetoenui Glacier, above Tukino Ski Field, said Youthtown Rescue Helicopter pilot Clayton Girven.

The trio saw the rock falling towards them and the climber turned his backpack into the boulder to brace for the impact, Mr Girven said.

His companions called for help on a mobile phone and the helicopter was able to find them on a slope at an altitude of 2286m and dropped a rescue team to assess the injured climber and load him on board.

The "pretty lucky" climber was not hit in the head and was conscious in the helicopter, Mr Girven said.

Later in the afternoon a woman was flown to hospital after breaking her leg rafting on the Tongariro River in the central North Island.

The woman, in her 20s, was one of three people rafting the rapids in an inaccessible gorge south of Turangi when their craft capsized.

Her leg, trapped in under-water rocks, snapped as she freed herself, said BayTrust Rescue Helicopter pilot Andrew Harrison.

Another member of the party called for help on a mobile phone about 2pm and the rescue helicopter was able to land on a small beach near the injured woman about 40 minutes later.

She was treated at the scene for the "painful" leg injury and flown to Rotorua Hospital, Mr Harrison said.

- NZPA