Safety plea after teen mountain biker hurt in Whakarewarewa Forest

A serious injury to a 17-year-old mountain biker in the Whakarewarewa Forest has been described as one of the worst incidents the forest's First Response Unit has dealt with.

The BayTrust Rescue Helicopter was called to the forest just after midday on Wednesday and the teenager was flown to Waikato Hospital. A hospital spokeswoman today said he was in a critical condition in intensive care.

A 17-year-old male has serious injuries after crashing his bike at the Whakarewarewa Mountain Bike Park in Rotorua. Photo/File

Rotorua Mountain Bike Club secretary Barbara Jenks said its First Response Unit was first on the scene where team members stabilised and monitored the teenager until the ambulance arrived.

"We don't like hearing about these events but it is good to know there is expert help at hand when needed and that the three services work in so well together."

Mountain Bike Rotorua director Tak Mutu said it was probably one of the worst incidents the First Response Unit had had to deal with.

"With mountain biking, just like any adventure sport, there is an element of risk and at the end of the day mistakes happen.

"For someone to end up hospitalised, obviously something has gone wrong, and for them to require the helicopter just steps that up a notch."

Mountain Bike Rotorua director Tak Mutu doesn't want to see many incidents in the forest this summer. Photo/Ben Fraser

He said the First Response Unit was being called out to incidents multiple times a day, but they varied in severity.

"It can be someone who is lost and needs a little bit of advice, to broken bones and then of course the more severe.

"This place is only getting more and more popular and on a normal summer's day we can see between 100 and 200 cars in our carpark bringing walkers, bikers and horse riders into the forest."

He said there were easy checks people could do to make sure they were being safe in the forest.

"There are always people here who can give you advice, whether it's where to ride or just checking over your bike.

"Talk to one of the crew or to the Peak Safety team if you need a hand."

Tips for keeping safe in the forest this summer
- Ride to your ability, start on the easy tracks and work your way up to a place that's comfortable.
- Always wear appropriate gear for the conditions you're riding in.
- If it is hot, make sure you're wearing comfortable clothing and have a water bottle on you.
- If it is cold, be prepared for it to get colder.
- Give your bike a quick check over before you go, make sure the bolts are tight, the brakes are working and there is enough air in the tyres.
- If you aren't sure there are nine bike shops in Rotorua who would be happy to help.
- Mountain Bike Rotorua