The Westpac Rescue Helicopter has winched an unwell teenager from a cruise ship 50km east of Ballina.

Around 1.30pm, on Tuesday (23 June), the helicopter was tasked by NSW Ambulance to assist a person in distress on the cruise ship.

The helicopter’s critical care medical team were first lowered down by winch to the ship, where they treated a 17-year-old female who was suffering from a severe anaphylactic reaction.

The girl was treated and stabilised before being stretcher winched into the Westpac chopper and airlifted to Gold Coast University Hospital.