Over the month of September, your Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew were able to impact the lives of over 50
patients, carrying out 55 life-saving missions in and around the Waikato, King Country and Coromandel regions, including
to locations such as Te Aroha, Tairua, Whitianga and Waihi. A total of 35 inter-hospital transfers, 11 medicals, 5
rescues and 4 motor vehicle accidents were attended to by the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter throughout the month.
September commenced with the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter responding to a motorcycle accident on Thursday, 2
September, involving a car in Waingaro, where a patient in their twenties had sustained serious injuries. The patient
was RSI’d (Rapid Sequence Intubation) at the scene before being flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. Later
that day, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Matamata for a teenage patient who had sustained burns
following an incident on a farm. The onboard crew flew the patient to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter attended a single-car accident just on the outskirts of Ngaruawahia around
midnight 4 September. A male and female were trapped initially until fire service freed them. They were both treated and
taken to Waikato Hospital in a moderate condition. Both patients were treated and assessed by the onboard Intensive Care
Paramedic (ICP) however were taken to hospital by road with the assistance of the ICP.
On Thursday, 9 September, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Tairua for a male patient in his seventies
suffering a medical event. The patient was also flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
Monday, 13 September saw the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter assisting a male patient who was suffering a serious
medical event in Te Aroha. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. The onboard crew were then
dispatched to the scene of a motor vehicle accident involving a truck and a car at the intersection of SH5 and SH28 on
the morning of Monday, September 13. A female patient had sustained spinal injuries and will be flown to Waikato
Hospital. Later that afternoon, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to the Coromandel for a patient
suffering a medical event. The onboard crew transported the female patient in her sixties to Waikato Hospital for
further assessment.
On Sunday, 19 September, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called out to Waihi, in the Coromandel region, for a
male patient in his sixties suffering a cardiac event. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
Saturday, 25 September saw the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter returning to Matamata for a female patient in her
twenties suffering post-natal complications. The patient was transported to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
On Wednesday, September 29, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Whitianga for a male patient who
suffered a serious medical event. The onboard crew flew the patient, along with his wife, to Waikato Hospital for
further treatment. The same day, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter returned to Whitianga for a female patient who
had suffered a fall. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital, with her daughter alongside.
Missions like these would not be possible if it weren’t for the generous donations from the public. Keep the Waikato
Westpac Rescue Helicopter operational 24/7 by donating today – rescue.org.nz.