Wellington-Based Crew Is On The Job In NZ

News from New Zealand now... where the Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew spent a busy weekend transporting motorcross accident victims from the Wairarapa and Marlborough. The Life Flight NZ air ambulance also transported a seriously injured hang gliding accident victim to Christchurch.

On Saturday, the helicopter, with a Wellington Free Ambulance paramedic onboard, responded to Mt. Ross, near Martinborough in the Wairarapa around 11:30 am local time. A 50-year-old man suffered a leg injury when he was thrown from his motorcross bike.

"The man was not seriously injured but his remote location meant that it would have taken many hours to get to him and then back out" says Dave Greenberg, Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman. "We had him back to Wellington Hospital less then an hour after the call for help was received by 111". 

The man was treated at Wellington Hospital Emergency Department, and discharged late Saturday.

That wasn't the first motocross-related call the Westpac crew received this weekend. Sunday afternoon, the helicopter was called to a motorcross event in Linkwater in Marlborough. Near the end of one of the races two young riders collided, injuring them both.

A 13-year-old girl suffered from back pain, and a 10-year-old boy suffered a badly broken leg after the collision. The pair were treated by a private ambulance at the event, and then transported to Wairau Hospital in Blenheim for treatment around 5pm this afternoon.

"Initially it was thought that one of the riders was suffering from a concussion so the helicopter was called in" says Greenberg. "Luckily both riders were wearing full safety gear so although one of them was a bit dazed, our Wellington Free Ambulance paramedic does not think they were concussed".

Not very much is known about the hang glider pilot. Rescue crews believe he was injured in a 10-meter fall late Sunday afternoon. He was transported to Wairau Hospital in Blenheim, believed to be suffering from head and spinal injuries. He was later transported to Christchurch Hospital aboard the Life Flight NZ air ambulance.

FMI: www.lifeflight.org.nz