Girl stable after cliff fall

A 13-year-old girl is in a stable condition after falling 20m down a cliff on the East Cape yesterday afternoon.

The Rotorua girl received multiple fractures when she climbed up a pohutukawa tree overhanging the cliff but slipped and fell on to rocks below about 4.30pm.

Family members were able to reach the girl and comfort her until the arrival of the Bay Trust rescue helicopter.

The rescue operation took three hours due to the difficult access, the girl's severe injuries, and strong winds.

She was flown to Waikato Hospital where a staff member this morning reported her to be stable after surgery.

- NZPA