A 21-year-old forestry worker from Rotorua is in the intensive care unit at Tauranga Hospital after falling about 200 metres down a cliff face this afternoon.
Emergency services were called to the area, 10km down a forestry road, about half an hour from Opotiki, about 12.30pm, Fire Northern Communications shift manager Scott Osmond said.
Police search and rescue and a helicopter with winch equipment on board both responded but the man was eventually reached using ropes.
A Bay of Plenty District Heath Board spokeswoman said the man was initially taken to Whakatane Hospital in a critical condition and was then transferred to Tauranga Hospital.
He had suffered multiple fractures and other injuries.
Barry Hennessy of Opotiki Fire Brigade told 3 News the man had tumbled about 150 metres down the hill and had then free-fallen 10m into a creek with basically vertical sides.
He "ended up on probably the only flat place in the creek, between two waterfalls, so it was a very tricky spot - very tricky rescue."
