Mon, Mar 20, 2006
The Wellington (New
Zealand) based Westpac Rescue Helicopter and the Life Flight NZ
fixed wing air ambulance worked four missions Saturday. It was also
the Life Flight Open Day supporting the Westpac Chopper Appeal.
The Auckland based Life Flight NZ air ambulance arrived in
Wellington at about 1030 this morning and transported a medical
patient up to Auckland.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter received two emergency calls at
virtually the same time, around 11:40 this morning. The helicopter
was asked to respond to a road traffic crash in Kapiti and a trail
bike accident in the Wairarapa.
The helicopter first responded to the Kapiti accident. We landed
in the parking lot of Southward Car Museum and picked up a 5 year
old Christchurch girl who was seriously injured in a crash on St
Hwy 1 at Otihanga Rd. The girl appeared to be suffering from
serious head injuries. She was transported to Wellington Hospital
ED where she was being treated and assessed. (Update - the girls
injuries are not as serious as first thought - she has been
admitted to Wellington hospital in a stable condition).
After refuelling the helicopter responded to the trail bike
accident just north of Masterton. A trail bike rally was being held
and a 20 year old Titahi Bay man missed a turn, flew over his
handle bars and tumbled 60 metres down a bank "head over heels". He
was wearing full safety gear but was knocked unconscious during the
fall. The man was treated by a Wairarapa Ambulance officer who was
at the event and she along with other bike riders managed to get
the man to the top of the hill. The helicopter arrived at the scene
at 1:30 and had the man back to Wellington Hospital at 2:10 pm. He
was treated in the emergency department and released late this
afternoon.
The Wellington based Life Flight NZ air ambulance is about to
transport a patient suffering from spinal injuries from Hutt
Hospital to Burwood Hospital in Christchurch. Apparently the
patient suffered the injuries in an accident overnight. No other
details are available at this time.
Saturday was also the Life Flight Open Day in support of the
nationwide Westpac Chopper Appeal running all this month. Over
2,000 people attended the day at the air rescue centre on
Wellington Airport. The public was treated to winch displays by the
rescue helicopter as well as displays by the airport fire service,
Wellington Free Ambulance, Aviation Security and the Capital &
Coast Health flight nurses from the Intensive Care and Neonatal
Units. They were also able to meet pilots and crews and see inside
the rescue helicopter and Life Flight NZ fixed wing air
ambulance.
"It was great to see so many people come out and meet our teams
and see our aircraft" says Kevin Allan, Life Flight General
Manager.
"As well as letting people get close up to our services it is
even more special this year as we celebrate 30 years since Peter
Button began the service and 25 years of Westpac sponsorship of the
rescue helicopter service".
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