Week of variety for rescue helicopter crew
Last week provided a lot of variety for the Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Service, with the helicopter’s crew involved in six missions ahead of hosting a public open day at their Hastings base yesterday.
Here are the missions they flew last week.
Monday 3rd February
4.30pm – Tasked by the Air Desk to Mahia to a single vehicle accident with the driver trapped in the car, requiring cut-out by Fire & Emergency. The male patient, with spinal injuries, was flown to Middlemore Hospital.
Wednesday 5th February
3.45am – Tasked by Rescue Coordination Centre to retrieve a male crewman, suffering a stroke, from the Maasdam Cruise Ship which was sailing from Tauranga to Napier. The helicopter intercepted the cruise ship due east of Gisborne. An Intensive Care Paramedic was lowered by winch on toe the deck of the cruise ship, to “package” the patient for winch extraction to the helicopter. The Filipino crewman was flown to Hawkes Bay hospital for follow up assessment and treatment.
Thursday 6th February
11.30am – Tasked by Hawke's Bay Hospital to transport a male patient, aged in his 60’s, with a cardiac condition to Wellington Hospital.
Friday 7th February
3.45pm – Tasked by Air Desk to Pourere Beach to a 42 y/o male patient with head injuries as a result of a 4x4 rollover on Pourere Beach, the patient was flown to Hawke’s Bay Hospital for further treatment.
Saturday 8th February
11.30am – At the request of Police the rescue helicopter responded to search and retrieve a female swimming off Bay View.
6pm – Tasked by Air Desk to Takapau in Central Hawke's Bay to a male patient with a severe hand injury as a result of using a wood splitter – the patient was flown directly to Hutt Hospital for follow up treatment.
