Burns victim 'conscious but distraught'

The BayTrust Rescue Helicopter took the woman to Waikato Hospital in serious condition. Photo / File

A woman who suffered third degree burns from a rubbish fire near Atiamuri yesterday was conscious but distraught when paramedics arrived.

The woman was airlifted to Waikato Hospital in serious condition last night by the BayTrust Rescue Helicopter.

Pilot Art Kowalski, who attended the call-out, said the woman had been burning a large pile of rubbish or debris on a rural property when the accident happened.

The woman, who was aged about 60, had burns to a large percentage of her body, he said.

The fire had been mostly put out when paramedics arrived.

"When we got there her co-workers or friends were trying to comfort her and help her out."

Paramedics worked to get the conscious but "distraught" woman into a stable condition for transporting to hospital.

"Obviously she was in a lot of pain, he said.

"That kind of pain's quite distracting."

Waikato Hospital were yet to provide an update on the woman's condition this morning.