Johannesburg - A male quad-biker was critically injured when he was flung from the top to the bottom of a mine dump in Soweto on Sunday, paramedics said.

"What was supposed to be a day out in the sun turned sour for a group of friends who went quad-biking on mine dumps in Braamfischerville, Soweto," said Netcare 911 spokesperson Nick Dollman.

The accident occurred when the man hit a huge ditch whilst riding his quad-bike at the top of the mine dump, causing him to lose control.

"He was flung for a few metres, and landed at the bottom of the mine dump."

Paramedics were alerted by the man's friends, but due to the unfavourable terrain, could not get to the isolated location with their ambulance.

"Paramedics had to be taken to the scene on quad-bikes by the friends.

"The injured man also could not be brought back to the ambulance, so a helicopter was dispatched to the scene. The helicopter had to land away from the mine dump.

"Once the man was stabilised he was then carried by paramedics to where the helicopter landed."

He suffered serious spinal and facial injuries, and was airlifted to Milpark Hospital, Dollman said.

By Arrive Alive