These missions included 25 inter-hospital transfers, seven medical events, one rescue and nine rural/farm incidents.
The helicopter was most often seen in Thames with five inter-hospital transfers, in Taumarunui with three inter-hospital transfers and two missions in Coromandel.
The month started with the helicopter being dispatched to Thames Hospital for a male in his 70s who was suffering from a serious cardiac event. The patient was swiftly flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
The following afternoon, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked with a rescue mission for a teenage male who had sustained serious injuries after falling from his mountain bike in the remote Whakarewrewa Forest. Due to the location of the incident, the patient was successfully winched up by the onboard Critical Care Flight Paramedic (CCFP) and airlifted to Waikato Hospital for urgent medical care.
In the evening of April 2, the rescue helicopter was called to Rotorua Hospital to transport a male in his 50s who was experiencing a serious medical event. The patient was swiftly flown to Waikato Hospital for advanced treatment and specialised care, ensuring he received the urgent attention he needed.
On April 3, the helicopter was dispatched once again, this time to assist a male in his 60s who was suffering from a serious medical event in Waihī. The patient was safely airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further evaluation and treatment, with the skilled crew ensuring his swift and safe transport to medical facilities.
On April 4, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to transport a male in his 50s. The patient was experiencing seizures and was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
On April 10, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Mt Tauhara for a female in her 50s who had slipped and injured her ankle while hiking. The onboard critical care flight paramedic was winched down to attend to the patient, providing necessary medical care and preparing her for extraction via winch. The injured hiker was then safely transported to Taupō Hospital for further treatment.
On April 15, the helicopter was dispatched to Whakatāne Hospital for a teenage male who was experiencing a serious health condition. The patient was flown to Auckland Starship Hospital for further treatment.
On April 17, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident for a female in her 20s who sustained multiple fracture injuries. The patient was transported to Middlemore Hospital for further treatment.
The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter also carried out a mission to Taupō in April. Photo / Philips Search and Rescue Trust
On April 19, the helicopter was dispatched to Rotorua for a male in his 90s who had sustained injuries from a dog bite. The patient was transported from Rotorua Hospital to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
On April 21, the helicopter was called to Long Bay for a woman in her 60s who sustained a serious head injury from falling backwards onto rocks. The onboard critical care flight paramedic was winched down to the patient, the paramedic stabilised the patient before they were extracted by winch. The patient was then transported to Auckland City Hospital for further treatment.
On April 25, the helicopter was dispatched to Karangahake Gorge for a woman in her 60s who had fallen while riding her bike and sustained fracture injuries. Due to the remote location, the patient was winched out by the onboard crew and then transported to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
On April 28, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Te Kūiti Hospital for a woman in her 60s who experienced a serious medical event. The patient was transported to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.
The month ended with the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter being dispatched to Waikato Hospital for a female in her teens who needed serious medical treatment. The patient was transported to Starship Hospital for further treatment.
The fast response of the rescue helicopter and its highly trained crew ensures the patients receive the best care as quickly as possible.
