Busy Weekend for the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter

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Busy Weekend for the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter

The Taupo Based Greenlea Rescue helicopter was dispatched to Mt Ruapehu on Saturday afternoon.

A danish woman in her seventies slipped and injured her ankle while descending near the Valley T bar on the NW slopes of the mountain.

The woman was with a group who all appeared to be well prepared and seasoned hikers.

Due to the remote and isolated location, and the inhospitable terrain, Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation (RARO) member Andy Hoyle assisted us and the National Park Police to evacuate the injured woman.

She was flown to Rotorua Hospital.

On Sunday just before lunch the Greenlea helicopter was alerted to an motorbike rider who had injured himself about 15km into the 42nd traverse trail in the central plateau.

The man who was on a multiple day trail ride with friends fell and was unable to continue.

Due to previous experience in the area, and a sound knowledge of where the 50km long tree covered trail goes, the Helicopter crew were quickly able to spot one of the injured mans friends who had positioned himself on a high point in one of the few open areas to signal the helicopter. The rider was then able to lead the helicopter further along the trail to the crash scene which was almost hidden from above due to trees.

With a very limited number of landing areas near the trail, the helicopters winch was used to evacuate the man who was then flown to a near by staging area before being transported to Rotorua Hospital.

Just on departure from Rotorua hospital for the return flight to Taupo, a helicopter retrieval was requested from the Whakarewarewa forest. With the Greenlea helicopter basically overhead at the time, it was a matter of only a few minutes before an Intensive care paramedic was able to treat the injured mountain biker.

The woman in her thirties was flown to rotorua hospital.

Philips Search and Rescue Trust is a charitable organisation, operating rescue helicopters throughout the Central North Island. Philips Search and Rescue Trust relies on support from principal sponsors and community donations. Special thanks to Taupo's principal sponsor, Greenlea. This crucial financial support ensures our rescue helicopters can continue to bring life-saving equipment, rescue personnel and trauma-trained medics directly to the patient. For further information about PSRT visit our website http://rescue.org.nz.

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