Man seriously injured in mountain biking crash

A 70-year-old Englishman is in a serious condition after a fall from his mountain bike in the Whakarewarewa Forest today.

The man fell just after midday and the BayTrust Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to the forest.

He was stabilised by crews from St John at he scene before being flown to Rotorua Hospital.

He was transferred to Waikato Hospital later in the day by the Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance.

Meanwhile, later in the day a walker had to be winched by the helicopter from the bush east of Rotorua after falling suffering a suspected leg injury.

The woman was walking the Eastern track by Lake Okataina. The dense bush made finding the 20-year-old from Kawerau difficult for crews.

Once she was spotted, a paramedic was winched down to her using the First Sovereign Rescue Winch.

The woman was winched aboard the helicopter and flown to Rotorua Hospital for treatment.