Two Hokitika men escaped serious injury after a microlight crashed on the Taramakau River yesterday afternoon.
NZCC West Coast Rescue Helicopter pilot Angus Taylor said the two-seater aircraft was badly damaged, but fortunately both men had been able to walk away from the wreckage.
"The aircraft was on its nose and the front end was well bunched up," Mr Taylor said. "They were fortunate to escape without serious injury. One had a bang to the head, and that was it."
The plane crash landed on a middle channel of the river, near the end of the Taramakau Settlement Road and opposite the Old Christchurch Road turnoff on State Highway 73.
Mr Taylor said they were lifted to a waiting ambulance and checked over before being flown to Grey Base Hospital about 3pm. The Civil Aviation Authority has been advised of the accident.
