Student airlifted from kayak trip

TRICKY TERRAIN: The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter at the airlift scene. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A 17-year-old South Auckland school student's Mohaka kayaking experience ended with a visit to Hawke's Bay Hospital, yesterday.

The group was on a river adventure trip when the student fell ill, due to what is believed to be a pre-existing cardiac condition.

Due to their isolated location, the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter was called in about 11.30am.

"They were about three hours from their camp, so they did the right thing calling us," pilot Jeremy Bruce said. "You can't walk out of there and, once you start kayaking in, that's really the only way out.

"They had a trained guide with them, a local guy who regularly goes down there. I think there was another group further back."

It took some manoeuvring to land the helicopter between large boulders, and a winch was put on standby in case the terrain was too rough. The teenager was taken to hospital for further treatment. Neither the hospital nor paramedic services were able to comment further, due to the pre-existing nature of her condition.