Man collapses in water, flown to hospital

RESCUE FLIGHT: The Westpac Rescue helicopter leaves Waihi airstrip with a 25-year-old male patient who had collapsed while in shallow water at Bowentown. Photo/Stuart Whitaker

A man who fell unconscious while standing waist deep in water at Bowentown this afternoon was flown to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.

The 25-year-old migrant worker had been with friends near the Bowentown Beach Holiday Park at 1.30pm when he appeared to collapse, Waihi St John ambulance officer Jason Wilmshurst said.

The man's friends managed to get him out of the water and back on shore until the ambulance arrived.

Firefighters were also called to the water incident and helped ambulance officers in treating the man.

Ambulance staff transported the man to the Waihi airfield, where the Westpac Rescue Helicopter then flew him to hospital for further treatment.