A 71-year-old woman who suffered a leg injury while tramping near Nelson took 10 hours to reach a hut before help could be raised.
The woman, from Alaska, was injured on the Moss Pass in the Nelson Lakes National Park about midday on Friday, Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter staff said.
She then spent about 10 hours descending to the D'Urville River Valley with help from members of her tramping party.
The woman sought shelter at the George Lyon Hut while members of her party walked out to raise the alarm yesterday. The rescue helicopter was dispatched about 7.25pm.
The woman was assessed and flown to Nelson Hospital for further treatment.
The rescue was immediately followed by a medical emergency at Kaiteriteri Beach, west of Nelson.
The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter airlifted a 59-year-old Kaikoura man to hospital after it was called to the beach about 8.55pm yesterday.
