Tramper winched to safety after fall

The man was winched to safety by the Northland Emergency Services' Trust rescue helicopter. Photo / File

A tramper had to be winched to safety near Whangarei Heads this afternoon.

A northern Police communications spokesman said the 67-year-old man called for help after slipping on a rock.

The man suffered a leg and rib injuries.

He was winched to safety by the Northland Emergency Services Trust rescue helicopter and flown to Whangarei Base Hospital.

The decision to fly the man out of the bush was made because it would have been an unnecessarily arduous journey on foot.

"It was an 800 foot summit to get back. That would be tough with a stretcher," said pilot Pete Turnbull.

A police search and rescue team would guide the man's wife and other family members out of the site on foot.