An 11-year-old boy who was flown to Middlemore Hospital by the Auckland Rescue Helicopter after suffering a neck injury in a rugby tackle last night is now home and well, his club president says.
A spokesman for the Auckland rescue helicopter said it responded to a callout in Maraetai in eastern Auckland at 7.38pm yesterday.
The boy had been taking part in rugby training at the local club and was tackled.
While his support players came in from the side, his head was caught and his body momentum carried on and he suffered a neck injury.
The injuries were treated as serious and he was taken to Middlemore Hospital for X-rays.
Beachlands-Maraetai Rugby president Craig Marshall said the boy had just been in the "wrong place at the wrong time'' at rugby training.
"It was just ruck and maul training, it was nothing major, he just got caught in a ruck between two players.
"The good news is that he's fine actually, he's home now.''
The rescue helicopter callout was more of a precaution than anything else, Mr Marshall said.
"He hurt his neck and he had tingling in his feet.
"As it turns out he's got a bruised neck and a broken bone in his foot.''