The Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to a rural farm location 3 miles north-west of Mangaweka at 5 pm on Wednesday 27 December. A 4×4 vehicle had gone off a farm track and plummeted 200ft into a stream.
A 13- year-old female had been thrown from the vehicle halfway down into the bush. A Personal Locater Beacon was set off, which assisted the rescue helicopter in confirming the GPS coordinates of the incident.
The rescue helicopter hoisted a Police SAR member into her location and with the assistance of two people who had navigated their way down to the girl, they were able to get the girl to a position where it was possible to hoist her out to waiting paramedics.
The girl had suffered numerous injuries to her chest, back and pelvis. She was treated at the scene before being flown to Whanganui Hospital for further treatment.