Your Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter had a busy month in December, carrying out 58 lifesaving missions throughout the
month. This included 34 inter-hospital transfers, 8 medical events, 10 rural or farming-related incidents, 5 motor
vehicle accidents, and 1 rescue mission. The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was commonly seen in Putaruru, Raglan,
Whangamata and Rotorua Hospital, with the most visited location being Tauranga Hospital, making up for 11 of the total
missions flown. Throughout the month, 11 missions were also carried out to the Coromandel region, accounting for almost
20% of all missions.
The month started with the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter being tasked to Rotorua Hospital for a man in his 20s who
had been involved in a motor vehicle accident and was in critical condition. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital
for further treatment. That same day, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Tauranga Hospital for a
teenage girl who had suffered head injuries after a fall. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital for further
treatment.
On Saturday morning, December 3, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Te Kuiti for a young boy who
had sustained leg injuries after falling off a motorbike. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital for further
treatment.
On Sunday afternoon, December 4, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Tokoroa Hospital for a man in his
70s who was suffering from seizures. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
On Wednesday morning, December 7, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to transport a preterm baby from
Tauranga Hospital. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
On Sunday morning, December 11, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Kerepehi for a man in his 30s
who was suffering from serious injuries after being involved in an MVA. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital for
further treatment.
On Tuesday morning, December 20, your Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Raglan for a woman in her 30s
who had been involved in a serious MVA and had sustained multiple serious injuries. The patient was stabilised at the
scene and was airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
On Saturday night, December 24, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to a small rural area south of Te
Awamutu for a teenage boy who had sustained serious injuries after being involved in a motorbike accident. The patient
was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
On Sunday evening, December 25, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to transport a woman in her 60s who was
suffering from a critical medical event. The patient was flown from Tauranga Hospital to Waikato Hospital for further
treatment.
The next day, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Whitianga for a teenage boy who had critical
injuries after falling off his motorbike. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
On Wednesday afternoon, December 28, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Raglan for a young girl who
was suffering from critical injuries. The patient was transported to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. That night,
the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Te Aroha for a man in his 80s who had fallen and sustained head
injuries. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
The month ended with the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter being dispatched on Friday night, December 31, to Whangamata
for a teenage boy who had fallen and sustained serious head injuries. The patient was flown to Waikato hospital for
further treatment.