Tararua tramper airlifted to hospital

A woman tramper was airlifted to Wellington Hospital after falling ill in the Tararua Ranges on Saturday.

Julian Burn, Life Flight Trust Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman, said the woman, in her 40s, suffered a medical complaint about 5pm and the rescue crew found her part way between Jumbo Hut and Aitiwhakatu Hut on the Raingauge Spur Track under a dense forest canopy.

"Fortunately the party were very well prepared and had an emergency locater beacon which they activated. The helicopter crew homed in on the signal and were able to locate the group almost immediately."

Mr Burn said the terrain had made landing impossible "so a suitable clearing was found nearby and the on-board paramedic from Wellington Free Ambulance was winched through a gap in the tree tops and hiked a short distance to the patient".

The pair were then winched aboard the helicopter.