Father and son still in hospital after 100m cliff fall

The TrustPower TECT Rescue Helicopter came to the aid of a father and son at Omanawa Falls. Photo / Kutz Photography

A father and his young son remain in Tauranga Hospital after falling 100m down a cliff on Saturday.

The pair were seriously injured in the fall, which happened as they were walking to Omanawa Falls - a popular swimming spot near Tauranga- about 4pm, the Tauranga-based Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter said.

Thick scrub broke their fall about 10 metres from the ground, saving their lives.

The father sustained serious back and shoulder injuries in the fall, and his son suffered from serious head injuries.

Today, a Tauranga District Health Board spokeswoman said the 38-year-old man remained in a serious but stable condition in Tauranga Hospital's intensive care unit.

The man's 12-year-old son also remained in Tauranga Hospital in a stable condition, she said.

It is believed that the boy fell first and his father then fell while going to his aid.

Both were winched onto the helicopter and flown to Tauranga Hospital.

Craig Jones, the St John intensive care paramedic that was in the rescue helicopter, said the dad was worried about his unconscious son.

However, by the time the boy was put in the harness to be winched up, he had regained consciousness and was talking to him.

Despite warning signs and fences put in place to stop people accessing the falls via a track along a ridge and around the top of the falls, locals said it was becoming more common for people to access the falls to swim.