Woman barely conscious after nap in sand dunes

Starting at a carpark, the pair walked about two or 3km along the beach, before taking a nap in the dunes. Photo / Supplied

A woman woke up from an evening nap in remote sand dunes to find her walking companion barely conscious and requiring a helicopter flight to hospital.

The Auckland Rescue Helicopter was called to Whatipu, in the Waitakere Range on the west coast of Auckland, just before 7pm yesterday.

"One of the females had a medical complaint, which has resulted in her having a lower level of consciousness," Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust paramedic Ross Aitken said.

"The other female with her alerted emergency services."

Starting at a carpark, the pair walked about two or 3km along the beach, before taking a nap in the dunes.

Mr Aitken said the women had been there for a few hours at least.

Fire and ambulance were also called out but were then stood down when the helicopter found the pair.

"We assessed the patient as being in a critical condition. We then airlifted the informant to the carpark so she didn't get lost, because there was fading light. We airlifted the patient to Auckland City Hospital in a critical condition," Mr Aitken said.

He said the weather was fine and warm during the day, although it started to cool later.

The woman, in her 50s, was in a stable condition in hospital this morning and was to be moved to a general ward today.