It was a busy weekend for our region's rescue helicopters.
On Saturday afternoon, a competitor in the T42 mountain bike race was airlifted to hospital after a fall resulted in serious injuries.
The Rotorua-based BayTrust Rescue Helicopter was called to Owhango Primary School to pick up the Hamilton 56-year-old.
He had serious head and neck injuries. On-site medics had transported the man to the school so the helicopter could land at a suitable spot.
Also on Saturday the Taupo-based Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Kurutau to a 67-year-old man with a serious medical condition. He was flown to Rotorua Hospital.
Yesterday morning the helicopter was called to Tongariro National Park to a 15-year-old boy with an ankle injury.
He was in a school group and had injured his ankle on Saturday but could not walk out. He was flown to Taupo Hospital.
At 4pm the Trustpower TECT helicopter went to Ruatahuna where an 18-year-old fell from a horse causing serious rib injuries. He was flown to Rotorua Hospital.