Accidents keep Rescue Helicopter busy overnight

The Palmerston North based Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Dannevirke just after night fall where a teenage female had suffered serious head injuries in a motor vehicle related accident. The patient was transported to the Dannevirke aerodrome by St John Ambulance where they were met by the Helicopter to be airlifted to hospital. Sadly the patient succumbed to her injuries prior to the airlift. The helicopter was intended to be used due to the time critical nature of the patient injuries.

Then at around midnight the Rescue Helicopter was despatched to the Tararua Ranges, near Shannon, where a hunter had received a serious accidental gunshot wound to his upper leg. The patient, a Palmerston North man in his 20's, was initially given first aide, to contain bleeding, by the other two members of the hunting party before the arrival of the Helicopter. The mission was flown using Night Vision Goggles and locating the injured hunter directly was made easier by the party signaling with a hand held torch.

Once the Helicopter had landed at the scene, the patient was stabilised by the on-board St John Ambulance Intensive Care Para-Medics before being airlifted to Palmerston Hospital in a serious condition.

The helicopter was used due to a combination of the time critical nature of the patient injuries and the inaccessible terrain.

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