The past week was a busy one for the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter. On Wednesday 28 February, the rescue helicopter was dispatch to an emergency hospital transfer at 3 pm on a
49-year-old male from Whakatane Hospital to Waikato Hospital. The rescue helicopter was then called back to Tauranga
Hospital to transport a 14-year-old female who required specialist surgery to Waikato Hospital.
The following morning at 4 am the rescue helicopter was dispatched to the East Cape settlement of Hawai, east of
Opotiki, where a 72-year-old local man had suffered a serious medical event. He was flown to Tauranga Hospital in a
serious condition. Later that morning the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter was tasked to transfer a 42-year-old man with a serious cardiac condition from Tauranga Hospital to Waikato Hospital
for specialist treatment.
Friday 2 March saw the rescue helicopter tasked to fly an 11-year-old girl with on-going medical conditions from
Tauranga Hospital to Starship Hospital for specialist treatment. The flew back to Tauranga Hospital with a 7-week-old
baby girl who was born with a heart condition. It was the first time out of hospital and she slept the entire flight.
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 Tauranga’s principal sponsor’s, Trustpower and TECT. 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
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