Injured motorcross rider flown to hospital

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Photo credit: Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

The Wellington based Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called to rescue a man injured during a motorcross event east of Masterton late this morning.

The helicopter, with a Wellington Free Ambulance paramedic onboard, responded to the incident just south of Whangaehu, about 9km east of Masterton.

When we arrived we found a 49 year old Masterton man who had been thrown from his motorcross bike and rolled down a hill. He was being treated at the scene by a Wairarapa Ambulance Officer who was working at the motorcross event and was being assisted by several other motorcross riders.

"The man was in a lot of pain from a severely broken arm and initially there was a thought he could also be suffering from a spinal injury" says Dave Greenberg, Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman. "The main reason that the helicopter was required was that the man was in a very inaccessible area to road vehicles. We thought we might have to winch the injured man into the helicopter but our pilot was able to land in a tight spot near the accident scene".

The man was flown to Masterton Hospital where he is being treated for his injuries.

We understand that several other riders were injured during the motorcross event but have no details on these other incidents.

ENDS

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