A mountain biker was airlifted in serious condition after a crash near Fruitgrowers Road in Clyde late Sunday morning.

Emergency services responded just after 11am, with the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter transporting the patient.

This was one of several incidents requiring helicopter assistance in the region over the weekend.

Earlier that afternoon, a paraglider believed to be an American tourist was critically injured in a crash near Mount Iron, Wānaka. The incident occurred shortly before 1.30pm, with the patient flown to Dunedin Hospital in a critical condition.

A St John spokesperson confirmed ambulance staff attended the Wānaka accident, alongside the Wanaka Volunteer Fire Brigade. A Fire and Emergency NZ spokesperson said crews assisted loading the patient into the rescue helicopter but a Stokes basket was not needed.

The crash happened near the second Mount Iron car park. Police were not believed to be involved.

At around 3pm the same day, the rescue helicopter responded to another callout – this time to Bannockburn Rd, Cromwell, where another mountain biker was seriously injured and also flown to Dunedin Hospital.

In a fourth incident, three hikers had to be rescued by helicopter early Monday morning (December 30) after falling ill near Lake Unknown, north-west of Kinloch. A spokesperson from Maritime NZ's Rescue Coordination Centre said the group had activated a personal locator beacon and could not walk out. They were flown back to their vehicle.