Two injured after Lion Rock fall

One of the injured men is loaded onto the Westpac rescue helicopter. Image / nzherald.co.nz video

Two men are fighting for their lives after falling more than 20 metres from Lion Rock at Piha Beach on Auckland's west coast early today.

The men, aged 18 and 31, were understood to have fallen onto rocks from near the top of the well-known landmark, about 12.20am.

It was a mystery why they were attempting to climb the rock in the dark, police said.

A man who was climbing with them raised the alarm.

Both men were airlifted to Auckland Hospital by Westpac rescue helicopter, where their conditions were described as critical.

Helicopter chief paramedic Barry Watkins said one of the men had a serious chest injury and required urgent medical treatment on the beach.

Police said they have yet to fully determine what took place prior to the incident.

A team of investigators was en route to Piha to carry out a scene examination.

Specialist rescue personnel had been called in to help with access to the top of Lion Rock and the difficult nearby terrain.

- NZPA