A young boy who was attacked by a 500kg cow in Geraldine was watching his sister compete in a local adventure race.
A Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue spokesman said the 7-year-old was with his family on Sunday when the cow jumped the fence and stomped on him.
The boy suffered abdominal injuries and fractured ribs and was flown to Christchurch Hospital, the spokesman said.
The Geraldine Adventure Race took place on private land on Waihi Gorge Rd in Woodbury.