Busy weekend for rescue helicopter crews

A canoeing trip on Nelson's Clarence River was cut short for a party of eight when a 49-year-old man fell ill and had to be flown to hospital.

Summit rescue helicopter pilot Tim Douglas-Clifford said the Nelson man had started the four-day trip feeling well, but developed kidney problems and realised on Saturday afternoon that he could not continue.

The group used an emergency locator beacon to get help, and the signal was picked up by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

The man was still in Nelson Hospital last night.

Mr Douglas-Clifford said the group had done everything right by carrying a beacon and seeking help.

The incident came on a busy weekend for the Nelson rescue service, and followed a callout earlier on Saturday to Rai Valley, where a 20-year-old man had fallen from his trail bike.

He was transferred from Nelson Hospital to Christchurch's Burwood spinal unit by helicopter yesterday due to the extent of his injuries.

Also on Saturday, the rescue helicopter was called to a truck crash on State Highway 6 just south of the Owen River Bridge, near St Arnaud.

Mr Douglas-Clifford said a 43-year-old woman ended up in a ditch after being thrown from the truck, which was heading towards St Arnaud.

She was flown to Nelson Hospital with chest, back and head injuries. A 51-year-old man also suffered minor injuries in the crash.

In the North Island, the Square Trust rescue helicopter was called to a motorbike crash near Alfredton, east of Eketahuna, on Saturday, after the motorcyclist hit a pothole and was thrown from his bike.

The man was taken to Palmerston North Hospital with chest and arm injuries.

- © Fairfax NZ News