Mountain biker rescued after crashing into trees

File photo / NZ Herald

A woman who had to be rescued by 'human sling' from a under a canopy of tall tress was just one of two people who had to be flown to Rotorua Hospital following mountain bike accidents today.

A young woman sustained serious shoulder and neck injuries after she fell in the Tongariro Forest and had to be rescued by helicopter at midday.

The Taupo-based Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was sent to collect her from the remote location.

After transporting her to hospital, the helicopter was almost immediately requested for a second accident, this time on the Waikato cycle way near Mangakino.

A 46-year-old woman was flown to Rotorua hospital with shoulder, neck and rib injuries.

She was found under a canopy of tall trees and had to be carried out using a human sling, said rescue helicopter pilot Ben Fry.

"We didn't have the winch on the helicopter at the time because we'd come from the job down in the Tongariro National Park."

A human sling is different from a winch in that it remains below the helicopter after the patient has been loaded onto the stretcher, rather than pulled up into the body of the aircraft.

"The system we use is just a static line so it just means we've got to go and land somewhere with the patient and load them back into the aircraft as opposed to winching them directly in."

Mr Fry said either system could be used in most rescue situations.