A young man, hospitalised after falling about four metres from a broken rope swing, is in a stable condition in hospital.
The 23-year-old Christchurch man was with a group of friends at a popular swimming spot on the West Coast when things went wrong on Saturday afternoon.
A spokesman from the New Zealand Coal and Carbon rescue helicopter, which flew the man to Greymouth Hospital, said the rope swing snapped while the man was being pulled back by his mates on the shore of Lake Brunner.
"His friends were pulling him back up high to try and get a big swing. He fell onto the gravel."
The man was transferred to Christchurch Hospital by the NZ Flying Doctor Service air ambulance later on Saturday, suffering from spinal and leg fractures. He fell from about four metres off the ground, the spokesman said.
A spokeswoman from the Canterbury District Health Board today said the man was in a stable condition.
He is grateful for the the aid provided by helicopter staff, she said.
