Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter sees 120 per cent increase in long weekend missions
The service completed 15 life-saving rescues during the extended break
New Zealand’s Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter completed 15 missions over the most recent long weekend across Waikato, King Country, Coromandel and surrounding areas. This was an increase of nearly 120 per cent compared to last year’s numbers.
It started with a dispatch to Litchfield to a man in his 20s suffering multiple injuries. He was taken to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
Next was Mount Pirongia to a woman in her 50s, who had fallen and sustained many injuries while hiking. She was flown directly to Waikato Hospital.
Later that day, the Waikato Westpac was needed in Taupo to care for a woman who had fallen off her BMX bike and had serious injuries, requiring later transportation to Waikato Hospital. That same evening in Tokoroa, a 20-something female was involved in a motor accident. Also on Saturday night, the helicopter transported a woman in her 60s from Thames Hospital to Waikato Hospital.
On Sunday, a teenage boy was injured on Mount Pirongia and flown to Waikato Hospital.
Monday morning, the last day of the long weekend, saw the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter transport a premature baby from Thames Hospital to Waikato Hospital. And finally, a man in his 60s was transferred to Waikato from Tauranga Hospital in the evening.
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