A passerby came to the rescue of a person whose car went off State Highway 1 and into Lake Taupō this afternoon.
A person was removed from the vehicle before emergency services arrived at the scene.
The incident took place near Rawhira Rd, near Tauranga-Taupō.
Fire and Emergency NZ said it had a 111 call come in about the crash at 2.10pm.
“A 111 caller had walked into the water and removed a passenger from the car,” a spokesperson said.
“It is more of a medical issue.”
Hato Hone St John sent two ambulances and a helicopter to the scene.
“One patient is currently being transported to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.”
Police said they attended a single-vehicle crash on State Highway 1, reported around 2.10pm on Friday.