Kayakers light fire to help rescue 72-year-old

KAYAKERS lit a fire to keep an injured 72-year-old paddler warm after he fell from his boat in the eastern Bay of Plenty.

The man was out kayaking with a group down the Whakata¯ne River from Ruatahuna when he went overboard on Friday morning.

He became wet and cold, a statement from the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter said. "The group lit a fire to dry him out and called for help, as he was unable to continue due to a sore back."

The Tauranga-based rescue helicopter got the call around 11am to help the man.

He was flown by the helicopter to his family waiting for him in Whakata¯ne.

During a busy Friday, the rescue chopped was also required to take a 36-year-old Wellington man, who had fallen from his bike and broken his leg in the Redwood Forest in Rotorua, to Rotorua Hospital for treatment.