An off-road motorcyclist was flown to Dunedin Hospital with spinal injuries following a crash during a trail ride near Milburn on Saturday.
The man, aged in his 30s, was riding a trail bike in the 10th "Lake to the Sea" event, between Milburn and Toko Mouth, when he crashed, a St John spokesman said.
Other riders raised the alarm shortly after noon. The Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to collect the man from Quoin Point Rd, south of Taieri Mouth, the spokesman said.
He was taken to hospital with moderate injuries to his lower back, neck and knees. No other information was available.
Ride organiser Brian Griffin said the man was "doing something he should not be doing" when he crashed.
"I can assure you I don't mark a track out that is going to cause issues like that."
Of the 860 riders in the 140km event over varied terrain, another two men injured themselves.
A man in his early 20s from Tapanui suffered a suspected broken leg, while a man in his late 20s from Milton broke his foot.
"One in 100 usually knock themselves around. It's the nature of the beast," Mr Griffin said.
