One person has been seriously injured following a paragliding crash above Taylors Mistake Beach.

Emergency services were called to the crash site which was about 50 metres up a hill near Taylors Mistake Road at about 1.35pm.

A Fire Communications spokesman said firefighters had to walk up a hill to attend to the patient.

A St John Ambulance spokesman told Chris Lynch one patient has suffered a serious injury.

The patient was being airlifted to Christchurch Public Hospital by the Westpac rescue helicopter.