A seriously injured paraponter has been flown to Christchurch Hospital with spinal injuries after a dramatic rescue near the Mount Cheeseman ski field in Darfield.
Westpac rescue helicopter pilot Stuart Farquhar says the man was in a precarious position on a steep rocky slope, secured only by his parachute which was snagged on a rock.
Mr Farquhar told Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme he had to return to Christchurch to pick up a team of alpine rescue specialists who managed to winch the man to safety.
He said the man appears to have crashed into the side of the mountain after a gust of wind caused part of his parachute to collapse.
