Eastland Rescue chopper uplifts injured walker

The Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter crew got help to an injured walker at Tuahine Point on Sunday, landing on the beach to pick up the patient and fly them to Gisborne Hospital.

A walk over the rocks near Tuahine Point did not end well for a walker who suffered damage to their lower leg and had to be uplifted by the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter at the weekend.

The chopper team were called out at 3pm on Sunday and landed below the high tide line, where the patient was treated before being flown in stable condition to Gisborne Hospital.

The mission was one of eight successfully completed by the team in the seven days from Monday, August 19.

Other missions for the week were:

August 19, 11.10am: Responded to a medical event at Ruatōria, flying the patient in stable condition to Gisborne Hospital.

August 20, 11.25am: Dispatched to a medical event at Ruakituri, landing at the northern side of the Te Reinga Bridge from where the patient was flown in serious condition to Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital.

August 22, 4am: Transferred a patient in serious condition from Gisborne to Dannevirke Aerodrome from where the Wellington Westpac Rescue Helicopter completed the transfer to Wellington Hospital.

August 22, 5.30pm: Transferred a patient in serious condition from Gisborne to Waikato Hospital.

August 22, 9pm: Upon their return from Waikato, the crew hot refuelled and headed straight to Tikitiki in response a medical event, flying the patient in a serious condition to Gisborne Hospital.

August 24, 2am: Dispatched to medical event at Tolaga Bay from where the patient was flown in stable condition to Gisborne Hospital.

August 24, 11pm: Called to a trauma at Tolaga Bay from where the patient was flown in a critical condition to Gisborne Hospital.