Teen skier sees mum's fatal fall

A teenager watched in horror as her mother fell to what was ultimately her death while the pair were skiing at Mt Hutt in Canterbury yesterday.

The mother, 56, fell about 700m over rocks and down a valley just outside of the skifield's boundaries. Ski patrol medical staff gave first aid where she was found, near a creek at the bottom of a gully.

She was then airlifted to the ski area medical room and stabilised, before the Westpac helicopter flew her to Christchurch Hospital. She later died.

Rescue helicopter spokesman Simon Duncan said the mother suffered serious head injuries, despite wearing a helmet. He said it was the second accident at the skifield in recent weeks.