A gap in the "difficult" weather conditions on Mt Cook has allowed a helicopter to take an injured skier to hospital after an intensive rescue mission on Thursday.
The Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) told Newshub a group of seven skiers activated a personal locator beacon shortly after 11am.
One person has a broken leg, but the other six skiers are uninjured.
An alpine search and rescue team battled windy conditions this afternoon to reach the group, who reportedly were struck by a small avalanche.
Three rescue crew members who had reached the injured skier had planned to stay overnight in a hutt until the weather improved.
On Thursday afternoon, a spokesperson for RCCNZ confirmed that due to a gap in the wild weather, the crew and injured skier were able to make it to the medical centre in Twizel.
"A helicopter is on the way and will take the skier to Christchurch hospital," they said.
Rescue Coordination Centre spokesperson Kris Wilson told Newstalk ZB the group had encountered a small avalanche.
