** High Priority **

A 10-year-old Australian girl is in a comfortable condition in Waikato Hospital's burns unit after she stepped into a thermal pool of boiling water near Tokaanu in the central North Island.

Her family, holidaying in New Zealand, today said they were indebted to the kayak company and to the Taupo-based Youthtown Trust Rescue Helicopter for acting so quickly.

The helicopter responded to the call shortly after midday on Friday.

The girl was swimming in a stream and then stepped into the water sustaining second degree burns to her lower left leg. She was treated on the scene by St Johns paramedics and flown to Waikato.

The family says it does not want to talk to the media and thanked everyone involved in their daughter's care both at the scene and at Waikato Hospital.

ENDS