Skiers on the Remarkables skifield performed CPR on a man believed to have suffered a heart attack before he was airlifted to Lakes District Hospital on Saturday afternoon.
A man, believed to be in his 60s, was in a critical condition, St John South Island communications adviser Ian Henderson said.
St John was alerted just after 2.30pm and dispatched the Queenstown rescue helicopter to the scene.
After 5pm, the man was flown by helicopter from Lakes District Hospital to Dunedin Hospital.
One skier who witnessed the incident, but did not want to be named, said people performed CPR on the man for about 15 minutes.
''From where we were looking it seemed quite serious - for that length of time to be getting CPR.
''They then closed the main chairlifts and then the chopper arrived to take him away.''
NZSki Remarkables ski area manager Ross Lawrence said he understood the man had suffered a heart attack.
''He was very fortunate our crew got to him pretty quickly after being informed. Within 30 minutes of being alerted we had him airlifted and out of here, which is pretty awesome.''
By Louise Scott.
