Manawatu Gorge Hoist Rescue for injured walker

The Palmerston North based Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to the Manawatu Gorge walking track last night where a local man in his 40’s had broken his ankle. Cell phone communications were used by other members of the party of volunteer Fire Fighters to raise the alarm and guide the Helicopter crew to the patient location. The Helicopter arrived at the scene approaching last light, in a race against time, and hoisted the on board St John Ambulance Intensive Care Para-Medic into the location where he was able to provide immediate relief to the patient and prepare him for the hoist extraction. The patient was then airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital in a stable condition arriving at night fall with the mission taking just 30 minutes.

The rescue helicopter was dispatched due to the inaccessible terrain and the excessive time that would have been required to have the patient carried out of the location by foot.

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 contributions. The Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter service has been made possible through the generosity of community donations. Principal sponsorship is currently being sought. 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 abut PSRT visit our website http://rescue.org.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media