Mountain biker suffers puncture wound in collision

Photo/File

A 70-year-old mountain biker has been flown to hospital after a collision with another rider.

The BayTrust Rescue Helicopter was send to a mountain bike track near Kinloch, Lake Taupo at 12.30pm today.

The man had collided with another mountain biker coming from the opposite direction.

His upper torso made contact with the other mountain biker's handlebars, resulting in a large puncture wound.

The rescue helicopter used the Southern Trust Rescue Winch to hoist a paramedic to the scene to stabilise the man then extricate both the injured man and the paramedic.

The man was flown to Waikato Hospital for further assessment and treatment.