Two Accidents Keep Westpac Rescue Helicopter Busy

The Wellington based Westpac Rescue Helicopter has had a busy day attending to accident victims in Te Horo and the Wairarapa.

The helicopter, with a Wellington Free Ambulance Paramedic on board, was called to Te Horo, just south of Otaki, where a car was hit by a train at a rail crossing around 1030 am this morning. We understand the car was struck by a north bound passenger train.

Our patient was a 32 year old Otaki man who was the driver of the car. The man was trapped in the overturned car and had to be cut free by the fire brigade. Once he was cut from the car we transported to Wellington Hospital in a serious condition. The man is suffering from multiple injuries all over his body and has been admitted to hospital.

The Palmerston North based Square Trust Helicopter transported a second patient - we believe it to be the passenger from the car - to Palmerston North Hospital.

Shortly after arriving back at base the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was sent to Masterton Hospital with a specially trained flight nurse and doctor from Wellington ICU. At Masterton we picked up a 67 year old Wellington woman who suffered a head injury during a fall at her holiday home in Martinborough. The woman was taken to Masterton Hospital by Wairarapa Ambulance. We flew her back to Wellington Hospital ICU where she is currently being assessed and treated.

For more information on either flight please contact:

Dave Greenberg
Crew Chief
The Life Flight Trust (Wellington, New Zealand)
Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Life Flight NZ Air Ambulance

http://www.lifeflight.org.nz

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