Patients airlifted from rural property NE of Rotorua & remote Urewera township

Media Release

Sunday morning at approximately 1040 the Rotorua based BayTrust Rescue helicopter was dispatched to a Farm 28 km NE of Rotorua to assist a woman who had suffered a broken leg whilst working on a property.

A St John Advance Paramedic who was flown as part the of the helicopter crew treated the woman at the scene before the 65 year old local woman was stabilised and then airlifted to Rotorua Hospital in a comfortable condition.

This mission was on the back of one to the remote Urewera township of Ruatahuna the previous evening (Saturday) when the helicopter was despatched to an elderly local woman suffering from a medical event. The 85 year old woman was airlifted to Rotorua Hospital in a comfortable condition with the flight crew using NVG (Night Vision Goggles) to complete the flight.

The helicopter was used in both these missions due to inacessability and time.

Philips Search and Rescue Trust is a charitable organisation, operating rescue helicopters throughout the Central North Island. Philips Search and Rescue Trust relies on support from principal sponsors and community donations. Special thanks to Rotorua's principal sponsor, BayTrust. This crucial financial support ensures our rescue helicopters can continue to bring life-saving equipment, rescue personnel and trauma-trained medics directly to the patient. For further information about PSRT visit our website http://rescue.org.nz.

[ENDS]

Organisation Background:

Philips Search & Rescue Trust (PSRT) is the charity responsible for the North Island’s largest pool of community helicopters. PSRT was founded in 1985 after an endowment by Philips New Zealand Limited to mark a light aircraft accident near Turangi in which two Philips personnel lost their lives.

Encompassing six rescue helicopters and two fixed-wing planes, the service provides air health and rescue services free of charge to the public on a no-fault basis. The rapid response is powered by an expert crew of pilots, paramedics, flight nurses, Police and volunteer crewmen. In a life and death situation it is this speed and agility that can make all the difference, with patients able to receive medical treatment whilst en route to a medical facility.

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