Surfer airlifted to hospital with deep cut in thigh

The 22-year-old woman was picked up from Ruapuke Beach, south of Raglan, by the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Photo / File

A surfer has been airlifted to hospital with severe injuries after being struck in the thigh by the fin of her surfboard.

The 22-year-old woman was picked up from Ruapuke Beach, south of Raglan, by the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter this evening.

She had a deep cut in her left thigh and it is feared the fin may have lacerated an artery, a Westpac Rescue helicopter spokeswoman said.

The fin was completely sheared from the board by the impact.

The helicopter was dispatched because of the severity of the injury and remote location, the spokeswoman said.

The surfer is in a stable condition in the Waikato Hospital emergency department and would be transferred to a ward for the night, a hospital spokeswoman said.