Busy Weekend for Waikato Chopper
The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter attended six missions over the weekend.
On Saturday the team were first dispatched to Whakatane with an ICU team to retrieve a patient with a serious cardiac
condition. This mission was closely followed by a dispatch to Putaruru to assist a teenager suffering respiratory
distress. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital.
The day did not ease for the team, as once again the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called to Te Anga, near Marakopa to assist and transport to Waikato woman who had fallen from a road bike,
sustaining serious injuries.
Another motor cyclist was transported to Waikato hospital after parting company with his motorcycle while navigating a
bend in the road in Glenmurray.
Today, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched twice, firstly to a farm south of Te Awamutu to retrieve a farmer who had gone over the side of a steep
bank while riding his farm bike. It was necessary to utilise the NZCT Rescue Winch to rescue the man due to the inaccessibility of his position. He had sustained serious injuries and was flown to
Waikato Hospital.
The helicopter was then called to Tokoroa for an emergency inter hospital transfer. The patient was transported to
Waikato Hospital.
Philips Search and Rescue Trust (PSRT) 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 Waikato King Country’s principal sponsor, Westpac. 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 rescue.org.nz
ENDS