The Wellington based Westpac Rescue helicopter has had a busy afternoon today with four missions between 1pm and 6pm.

The first mission just after 1pm today was to transport a male from Paraparaumu to Wellington hospital who was suffering chest pains. The patient was taken to Wellington hospital emergency department where he is being further assessed and treated.

At 1:45pm, while the helicopter was enroute to Wellington hospital with the first patient, we were contacted by the Police to respond to a diver who had been swept off shore by strong currents at White Rock near Cape Palliser. It was reported that a surfer had gone to the divers aid and that they were together but unable to return to shore. On arrival of the helicopter a nearby fishing vessel had just dispatched it's inflatable boat to retrieve the diver from the water. It too was unable to return the diver to the shore due to large swells and took the diver back to the fishing vessel, where the helicopter was able to winch him off and return him to shore. The diver was uninjured and was left in the care of local Police.

Just after 4pm the helicopter was dispatched to a 1 year old child who had suffered an allergic reaction to peanut butter while visiting the Staglands Wildlife Park near Akatarawa. The child had not previously suffered any allergic reactions to foods. On arrival of the helicopter a road ambulance crew had begun treating the child. The child was taken to Wellington Hospital emergency department with his father and sister, where he is being further treated.

As we were transporting the 1 year old to hospital (just after 5pm) we received notification that the helicopter was required for a medical patient in Paraparaumu. An 83 year old Kapiti man had collapsed and suffered what appeared to be a serious seizure, possible requiring the specialist skills of the helicopter paramedic. On arrival of the helicopter at Paraparaumu airport Wellington Free Ambulance staff were treating the man. The man was transported to Wellington hospital emergency department where he is undergoing further treatment.

"It's been an unusually busy and satisfying day for us" says Colin Larsen, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Crewman. "In the end it looks like all of the patients are going to recover OK and we certainly got around a good part of our rescue region".

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