A Takaka policeman had to climb down a three-metre drop to splint the badly broken leg of a teenager who fell down a hole on Peacock Rock in Golden Bay yesterday.
The 15-year-old boy had been camping with his Christchurch family at Pohara Bay, 9km north-east of Takaka,when he went for a walk, the Nelson Mail said today.
He slipped and fell into a hole near the top of Peacock Rock, and was not found until shortly after 4pm, three hours since he was last seen.
Constable Bruce Telford, of Takaka police, said he climbed down the hole to splint the teenager's leg, which was causing a lot of pain.
"Moving his leg just to splint it was a nightmare," Mr Telford said.
The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter was called, and the teenager airlifted out by special stretcher as the terrain was too rough for the helicopter to land.
He was in a comfortable condition in Nelson Hospital today.
