German Chancellor Angela Merkel celebrates the country's space programme in 2012. So which space hero came to the rescue of injured biker? Photo / Getty Images
A German astronaut came to the rescue of a biker who had crashed on the Taihape-Napier Road.
The biker, a man in his 30s from Hastings, was trying get help for some stranded tourists when he came off the road.
He was found by two German tourists, including one who was an astronaut, who raised the alarm. They were soon joined by his companion.
The man was flown by the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter to Hastings Hospital yesterday afternoon for treatment, where he was in a stable condition.
Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter said one of the Good Samaritan tourists told them they were an astronaut.
Pilot Chris Moody said they had a friend in common who was also an astronaut in the German space team.
The German tourists were travelling across the scenic central island route heading to Hastings when they came across the dazed rider, he said.
The man had come off his bike on a bend around 30km east of Moawhango and was found near his crashed bike.
He had no recollection of what happened or how long he had been there, said Mr Moody.
He was allowed to live there if he paid bills and did maintenance - but he didn't.