27 Sep 2008

Takaka man seriously hurt after 10m fall

7:28 pm on 27 September 2008

A Takaka man is in a serious condition in Wellington Hospital after falling 10 metres at the top of Takaka Hill, west of Nelson.

The 44-year-old was working on a communications pole when it broke with him attached to the top on Saturday morning.

The man suffered serious head injuries after falling on to jagged rocks and was flown by rescue helicopter to Nelson Hospital before being taken to Wellington Hospital for further treatment.

Meanwhile, a young woman is in a stable condition in Nelson Hospital after also being rescued by helicopter on Saturday.

The 16-year-old girl was on a school tramping trip on the Heaphy Track when she fell and suffered head and knee injuries.