Six duck shooters were injured when the vehicle they were in rolled down a steep hill east of Waipukurau yesterday.
One man, aged 24, suffered pelvic and back injuries when he was thrown from the back of the rolling ute on a remote rural property near Oueroa, the Palmerston North-based Rescue Helicopter said.
Another 24-year-old, from Tikokino, suffered upper body injuries.
Both were stabilised at the scene by St John Ambulance intensive care paramedics before being flown to Hastings Hospital.
The remaining four were treated at the scene by road ambulance crews, who had to be transported into the farm on 4x4 vehicles.
All six were duck shooters, the rescue chopper said.
As the chopper crew returned to base, they were called to Rugby Park in Dannevirke where a 19-year-old from Palmerston North had suffered a badly broken leg in a colts match between Dannevirke and Massey.
He needed to be taken to hospital urgently, the chopper said.
The game was momentarily delayed while the helicopter was guided into the centre of the ground by local Fire Brigade members to allow the patient to be 'hot-loaded'.
"With the score board showing the home team narrowly ahead with 7 minutes to play, the patient was airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital in a stable condition," the chopper crew said.
