Boy airlifted after ute rolls off track

An Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter crew was called to airlift a 12-year-old boy injured when a ute rolled off a steep track and over a bank in the Catlins on Tuesday.

St John spokesman Ian Henderson said a helicopter and an ambulance were deployed to a rural property in Ahuriri Flat Rd, about 20km south of Balclutha, just before 1pm.

The boy received moderate injuries and was flown to Clutha Health First.

Chief pilot Graeme Gale, of Dunedin, said the Toyota Hilux ''slipped'' from a steep track.

''The grass was wet and it ended up going off the track and going down over the bank ... they were extremely lucky.''

Four people were in the ute when it rolled, he said. The other people were not transported for treatment.

A police spokeswoman said the boy had lacerations to his back.