Girl injured after fall from Tongariro cableway

Tongariro River. File photo / Supplied

An 11-year-old Turangi girl has suffered serious head and facial injuries while trying to climb up framework to a NIWA cableway strung over the Tongariro River.

The girl and about six others were understood to be playing on the framework when she fell shortly before 7pm on Tuesday.

She was airlifted from Turangi to Waikato Hospital by Taupo's Youthtown Rescue helicopter after being treated at the scene. Details on her condition were not available yesterday.

The private cableway, which is about 20m above the river, is used by NIWA to measure water flows. A basket that transports trained staff is padlocked when not in use and danger signs are usually in place warning members of the public to stay away from the cableway.

A NIWA spokesperson said a check yesterday revealed the signs had been removed.

Senior Turangi paramedic Andrew Reid said the area was frequented by children. The group playing there on Tuesday evening had apparently been been climbing up and down the framework to the cable when the accident happened.

The girl fell on to the bank suffering serious injuries to her head and face.

Mr Reid said it was not known how far she had fallen.

He said the alarm was raised by someone who ran to a nearby house to call for help.

Two volunteer officers from Turangi and an advanced care paramedic from Taupo treated her at the scene.

- Rotorua Daily Post