A 22 year old man who broke a leg falling off a motorbike on a farm track near Broadlands this morning was airlifted to Rotorua hospital.

The Rotorua based BayTrust Rescue helicopter was dispatched to a farm near Broadland's at about 9.30am. Broadlands is about 55km SE of Rotorua.

The BayTrust rescue helicopter at Broadlands today

Because of the accident location and the distance to the nearest hospital the best option was to airlift him out. He was flown to Rotorua Hospital in a comfortable condition.

BayTrust Rescue helicopter is among six community helicopters operated in the central North Island by the Philips Search & Rescue Trust.

PSRT was founded in 1985 after an endowment by Philips New Zealand Limited to mark a light aircraft accident near Turangi in which two Philips personnel lost their lives.

The service provides air health and rescue services free of charge to the public on a no-fault basis. The rapid response is powered by an expert crew of pilots, paramedics, flight nurses, Police and volunteer crewmen. In a life and death situation it is this speed and agility that can make all the difference, with patients able to receive medical treatment whilst en route to a medical facility.