Rescue helicopters kept busy

Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter

A call to help a child seriously hurt after he dived into a swimming pool was one of several rescue helicopter callouts over the weekend.

Rotorua's BayTrust, Taupo's Greenlea and Tauranga's Trustpower TECT rescue helicopters were kept busy with several callouts across the region, including coming to the aid of a boy who dived into a pool and hit the bottom.

The BayTrust Rescue Helicopter was called to Opotiki about 5pm on Saturday where the 10-year-old had suffered a serious neck injury.

The Opotiki boy was treated at the scene by St John paramedics as fire crews secured a landing area on the road outside the property.

The helicopter flew the boy to Rotorua Hospital in a serious condition.

The same day the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter was called to Te Kaha, to help a local man who fell from the roof of a two-story house.

The 47-year-old man suffered leg and facial injuries in the fall.

Rescue helicopter staff said it was unknown why the man was on the roof but it is believed he fell as a result of a medical event.

The helicopter was called to deliver specialist care to the man and transport him to hospital from the remote location.

He was flown to Whakatane Hospital in a serious condition.

Yesterday afternoon, the Trustpower TECT helicopter was called to a farm near Putaruru to help a man who suffered a serious medical event while cutting firewood.

Ambulance crews revived the 59-year-old Tirau man before he was flown to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.

Meanwhile, on Saturday night the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was called to help a young man with a suspected fractured arm. He was flown from a hut near the Mohaka River to Taupo Hospital.