Emergency services were called to the beach about 12.29pm after three people pulled a woman out of the water.
Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said he, and all emergency services, were thankful the three were in the area.
"They put themselves at risk to get her out of the dangerous surf to rescue the woman. As a result she was ashore when the rescue helicopter picked her up.
"If they weren’t there, then it could have been a much more tragic situation."
One of the rescuers said he was shocked at how difficult it was to find people willing to help.
"It was hard to get help here, and there was a lot of the tourists coming to visit. They just weren’t interested in it at all. Luckily, a couple did stop to help get her out."
When the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter arrived, it flew mere metres from the cliff edge to enable the woman to be winched up.
She was transported to Dunedin Hospital, a Hato Hone St John spokesman said.
