These Guys Are On The Job In NZ

If you're in New Zealand, and suddenly the victim of an unfortunate accident... at least you may take some comfort knowing Westpac Rescue aircraft crews are on the job, ready to fly you to the hospital. Aero-News learned this weekend the Wellington-based helicopter crew flew one seriously injured patient from the scene of a fatal car & truck accident on the Rimutaka Hill Saturday.  

The helicopter was called to the accident, about 3km south of the twin bridges on the Featherston side of the Rimutaka Hill Road. The helicopter, with a Wellington Free Ambulance Paramedic onboard, landed near the scene around 12:40 pm local time.

"When we arrived the Wairarapa Ambulance Service and the Fire Brigade has just finished extricating our patient from the car" says Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman Dave Greenberg. "Apparently the Northbound truck lost it's brakes, rolling onto its side and on top of the car as it rounded a bend".

The patient transported onboard the helicopter was a 54 year-old Titahi Bay man. He was the front seat passenger of the car which the truck landed on. He is in a serious condition suffering from chest and other injuries, none of which are believed to be life threatening.

He was taken to the Emergency Department at Wellington Hospital.

Also on Saturday, the Wellington-based Life Flight NZ Air Ambulance picked up an injured child from the Chatham Islands and the Auckland-based Life Flight NZ Air Ambulance was picking up a premature baby from Christchurch.

The Wellington-based plane was sent to the Chatham Islands to pick up a 13 year-old boy who was injured when he was thrown off his horse. His arm was broken in several places and he requires surgery. He was transported to Wellington and is expected to undergo surgery this evening.

Meanwhile, the Auckland-based Life Flight NZ Air Ambulance was sent to Christchurch to transport a sick premature baby back to Starship Hospital.

Sounds like these crews need a weekend to recover from their weekend... great job, all.

FMI: www.lifeflight.org.nz