Police officer dies after BMX biking crash

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The senior Northland police officer who suffered serious injuries in a BMX biking crash on Sunday has died.

Police said 49-year-old Detective Sergeant Andrew John Clubley died early today. He had served in the force for 29 years, many of them in Whangarei.

The incident, which happened at the BMX track on Pohe Island, Whangarei, about 6pm on Sunday, saw Mr Clubley rushed to Whangarei Hospital in a critical condition.

Northland St John ambulance boss Tony Devanney told the Northern Advocate Mr Clubley suffered "very serious head and neck injuries" and had to be resuscitated.

"He had a cardiac arrest from his injuries," Mr Devanney said.

Details around what had happened at the BMX track were sketchy, he said, but it appeared Mr Clubley hit his head against an object while riding.

The Whangarei BMX Club was aware of the accident but members did not know how it had happened.

Club president John Romer said it had taken place just hours after club members, who had a fun day on Sunday afternoon, left the tracks.

Mr Clubley was not a club member, he said.

"It's horrific to see anyone hurt himself ... It's quite a dangerous sport and unfortunately when we're not there it's an open track, just like the skate park in terms of safety," Mr Romer told the Advocate.

Mr Clubley's family has asked for privacy.