A man has died following an accident while he was operating a tractor on the West Coast.

Just before 11am on Saturday, the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter was called to the scene near Little Wanganui, south of Karamea, where a 65-year-old man was found dead. Police were called to attend the scene.

Meanwhile, at 1.50pm the rescue helicopter crew was called to uplift a 40-year-old mountain biker who sustained pelvic injuries following a crash while he was riding in the Wairoa Gorge.

The man was assessed at the scene by the helicopter's onboard intensive care paramedic before being flown to Nelson Hospital for further treatment.