Philips Search and Rescue Trust undertook 173 missions in January

In the first month of 2023, New Zealand’s Philips Search and Rescue Trust completed a total of 173 missions across its network.

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter undertook 58 life-saving missions in January to the Waikato, King Country, Coromandel and surrounding regions. These included 34 inter-hospital transfers, eight medical events, one rescue, 10 rural/farming-related incidents and five motor vehicle accidents. The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was seen in the likes of Tauranga, Rotorua, Thames and Raglan during the month.

Greenlea Rescue Helicopter conducted 47 life-saving missions in the first month of the year, including:  

• 20 inter-hospital transfers
• one rescue
• nine medical events
• two motor vehicle accidents.

Fifteen of these were to rural or remote locations, which is triple the number of missions compared to December 2022, totalling 31 per cent of total missions. The hotspots for the rescue helicopter crew were Rotorua (eight), Taupo (nine) and Tongariro Crossing (two). Almost 20 per cent of all missions in January were to or around Rotorua.

Throughout the month, the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter carried out a total of 24 missions in the Manawatu, Whanganui and surrounding regions. These included:

• two inter-hospital transfers
• three medical events
• five motor vehicle accidents
• two rescue missions.

Twelve were rural or farming-related incidents, which accounted for 50 per cent of total missions. Hotspots for the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter were Ohakune with three missions, and Tangiwai and Rangiwahia with two each.

The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter team carried out a total of 44 missions in January, including:

• 19 inter-hospital transfers
• 10 medical events
• three motor vehicle accidents.

Twelve were to rural or remote locations. The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was seen in multiple locations across the Bay of Plenty/Coastal regions, with 10 missions in Tauranga, six in Whakatane and two each in Te Kaha and Waihi.