A middle-aged man snowboarding with his teenage son injured his back yesterday after trying to retrieve a ski, outside the boundary of Turoa ski field at Mt Ruapehu.
The helicopter pilot who rescued him said it showed the importance of being careful and aware of boundary lines.
The Palmerston North-based rescue helicopter was called to the mountain at about 2pm yesterday, after the Cambridge man, in his 40s, fell down a rugged and icy slope while trying to retrieve one of his son's skis which had come loose.
The man was airlifted to the Turoa Ski field medical centre, and then transported to Palmerston North Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
He was due to be discharged today.