US skier hospitalised after Mt Hutt fall

An American skier is in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Christchurch Hospital after falling at Mt Hutt skifield yesterday.

The 21-year-old woman was skiing off-trail at the Canterbury field when she slipped on ice and suffered serious chest and head injuries, said ski area manager David Wilson.

Weather and visibility were good at the time, he said.

It is the second accident the ski area has had to deal with in its opening week.

Christchurch man Arthur Richardson, 60, died on Monday night after his car ran off the mountain access road.

- NZPA