Life Flight Air Ambulance Service Busy

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Flies One from Truck vs. Car Accident - Life Flight Air Ambulance Service Busy

The Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter flew one seriously injured patient from the scene of a fatal car & truck accident on the Rimutaka Hill this afternoon.

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

"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 is 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 today 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.

ENDS

http://www.lifeflight.org.nz

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