Person trapped with critical injuries after tree falls on caravan at Balmoral Recreation Reserve in Hurunui, Canterbury

A police spokesperson said a tree was reported to have come down on a caravan at a Balmoral Station Rd address. File photo/SunLive.

Emergency services used a digger to free a person with critical injuries trapped for hours tonight in a caravan that a tree fell on in Canterbury.

Fire and Emergency and police were notified that a tree had fallen on a caravan at the Balmoral Recreation Reserve Camping Ground on Balmoral Station Rd in Hurunui.

The person was freed from the caravan at 9.52pm tonight but remained in a critical condition. They were going to be transported to Christchurch Hospital.

A Fire and Emergency NZ shift manager said a digger and tractor were used to extricate the person in a “technical, complex assignment”.

The incident was first reported to emergency services about 7.20pm tonight.

“We responded with a crew from Culverden and Amberley,” a Fire and Emergency spokesperson said.

A digger was requested to help with the rescue before 9pm.

“Crews are still on scene and are reassuring the person trapped in the caravan. St John is also on site,” the Fire and Emergency spokesperson said during the rescue efforts.

A St John spokesperson said one ambulance, one rapid response unit and one first response unit were on site.

“We are treating someone with critical injuries,” they said.

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