Hunter falls 150m down bank

BUSY: The Palmerston North rescue helicopter flew three missions to Mt Ruapehu last week. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A hunter in the Whanganui River valley had a lucky escape after falling 150 metres down a steep bank.

The man in his 50s, from Waikato, was deer hunting in the Matahiwi area on Saturday morning when he tumbled down the bank.

Another group of hunters saw the man fall and went to help him. They were able to move him to a nearby woolshed and call emergency services.

The Palmerston North rescue helicopter was sent because of the remote location and the man's potentially serious injuries.

The helicopter's on-board St John Ambulance intensive care paramedic assessed the man at the scene before he was airlifted to Whanganui Hospital in a stable condition.

A spokesman for Whanganui Hospital said the hunter was treated and discharged.

The Palmerston North rescue helicopter flew nine missions, transporting 11 patients, last week.

On Monday afternoon, the helicopter assisted a man in his 80s at Kakatahi, who was suffering a serious medical event. He was airlifted to Whanganui Hospital.

On Tuesday around midday, the helicopter was called out to Taihape for a local woman in her 50s, injured while mustering sheep. She was flown to Whanganui Hospital.

Later that afternoon, the helicopter was dispatched to Mt Ruapehu to help an injured skier.

Early on Wednesday morning, it helped at Waitarere with the search for missing 10-year-old Alex Fisher, whose body was later found on the beach at Waitarere.

Later in the afternoon, the helicopter was dispatched to Mt Ruapehu for an injured skier.

In the early evening, a local speedway driver, with serious burns following an accident at the Palmerston North speedway track, was flown to Hutt Valley Hospital for specialist emergency treatment.

On Friday afternoon, the helicopter answered another callout to Mt Ruapehu, for two injured snowboarders.

A Feilding man in his 40s and a 12-year-old Wanganui boy were both flown to Whanganui Hospital.