Rescue Helicopter Winches Worker from Cargo Ship
Wellington Westpac Rescue Helicopter Winches Worker from Cargo Ship
On Friday at approximately 11:00 am the
New Zealand Rescue Coordination Center tasked Life Flight to
rescue a worker from a cargo ship off the southern Hawkes
Bay coast.
Life Flight responded with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, with a Wellington Free Ambulance intensive care paramedic on board. The 220m cargo vessel was located approximately 10 km off shore rolling in 5m swells. The paramedic was winched to the deck of the vessel where the patient was assessed and stabilized before being winched 20m up to the helicopter. Once on board the helicopter, the patient was transported to Wellington Hospital for treatment. Please see attached picture.
The Life Flight Trust is a charity that provides emergency air services, including the Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter and a nationwide air ambulance service. It relies on support from the public and from partners such as major sponsor Westpac and major funder NZCT to provide these services.