A child had to be flown to hospital for immediate treatment after accidentally swallowing a battery.

A 10-year-old boy was playing around with batteries, when he accidentally swallowed one around 5pm on Sunday.

The Tauranga-based Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Waihau Bay to fly him to hospital for treatment.

'Due to the corrosive nature of the battery and the likely injuries, the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter was tasked to pick up the boy from Waihau Bay Fire Station and transport him to Tauranga Hospital for assessment and treatment,” says a helicopter spokesperson.