Call to Elderly Woman Struck by Car

The Wellington base Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called to the scene of an elderly woman struck by a car just as The Life Flight Open Day came to an end late this afternoon.

The woman was one of two people struck by a car at the Waikanae Recycling Station on Park Ave. As we understand it an elderly driver accidentally ran down two people who were dropping off items at the recycling station.

The helicopter was called at 4:00 pm and arrived at hospital at 4:48 pm. The 83 year old Waikanae woman is suffering from serious head injuries and was cared for by at the scene and in the helicopter by Wellington Free Ambulance paramedics. She is in a very serious condition in Wellington Hospital's Emergency Department.

A second patient was transported by Wellington Free road ambulance to hospital.

Both Life Flight NZ fixed wing air ambulances have also had a busy day. The Wellington base plane picked up a sick 18 month old baby from Blenheim around three o'clock this morning and is currently transporting a sick patient from Blenheim to Christchurch. The Auckland base service brought a Paediatric Intensive Care team to Wellington late this afternoon to transport a sick baby back to Auckland's Starship Hospital.

Over 3,500 visited the Open Day at the Life Flight Air Rescue Centre today.

"We are pleased that so many people took the opportunity to come out and see our aircraft and meet the teams who work on the aircraft and behind the scenes" says Anna Gilhooly, Life Flight Marketing and Fundraising Manager. "People were queuing at the doors at 10 am and we had a constant stream of people right up until the end of the day".

The Open Day is part of the Westpac Helicopter Awareness Month.

ENDS

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