Helicopter Makes Two Trips to Same Accident

Helicopter Makes Two Trips to Same Accident

The Wellington based Westpac Rescue Helicopter made two trips to the same car accident on the Kapiti Coast earlier tonight.

The helicopter was called to a road traffic crash about 2km north of Waikanae on St Hwy 1 just after 6pm tonight. Wellington Free Ambulance, the Fire Brigade and Police were already on the scene when the helicopter arrived at 6:30pm.

"There were two seriously injured people at the scene but only one was cut free from their car when we arrived" says Keith Frewen, Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman. "It was decided that it would make good sense to fly the first patient to hospital while the fire brigade worked on freeing the second patient".

The first patient, a 90 year old woman from Palmerston North was flown to Wellington Hospital with serious head and leg injuries. A Wellington Free Ambulance paramedic escorted the woman to the Emergency Department while the helicopter took off and headed back to the scene.

The second patient had been extricated and was being treated in the back of an ambulance when the helicopter landed at the scene for the second time. A 63 year old Palmerston North man, the driver of the car, was flown to Wellington Hospital suffering from multiple serious injuries.

Both patients are being treated in Wellington Hospital and are currently (11:30 pm) said to be in a serious condition.

ENDS

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