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A PATIENT'S STORY
Elderly trio full of praise for rescue
helicopter service and crew
Broken bones, black eyes, huge bruises and a shared room
in Palmerston North Hospital were the result of a trip to
Waipukurau for three older people from the lower North Island
in early January.
David Lochead, aged 73, of Shannon, was driving his brother
Roy (82) and Roy’s wife Joyce Lochead (77) back to
their home in Levin after paying a visit to their elder
brother in hospital in Waipukurau. Also with them was David’s
partner Colleen.
“We’d been going on regular visits for several
months to see our brother, and we were on our way home and
were going to stop in Dannevirke for a cup of tea with another
relative,” says David. “It was Thursday, January
5th.”
He says the wind in the Hawke’s Bay that day was particularly
strong, and he had been driving at only about 80km/h and
could feel the wind pushing against the van.
“I don’t really remember what happened, but
the van went off the road, down a bank and hit a power pole.
“When I came to, I had my right arm out the driver’s
window, and I could see the bone sticking out above the
elbow, and another bone sticking out of my right leg. I
was jammed in – my foot was caught in the pedals,
and I was very pleased to see those red flashing lights
when the fire engine arrived.”
Joyce, who remembers a good deal of the accident, says firemen
and other rescue people cut David out of the driver’s
seat, put him on a stretcher “and loaded him straight
into the rescue helicopter”.
The accident, in heavy holiday traffic, was seen by other
motorists and the alarm was quickly raised.
Roy Lochead says he was told that a doctor and nurse, travelling
in another vehicle behind them, were some of the first on
the scene and were able to help with immediate first aid.
“I remember I had just come to, and I heard someone
say the helicopter had arrived,” he says.
Two rescue helicopters were called in to assist –
The Square Trust machine from Palmerston North, and the
Lowe Walker Rescue Helicopter from Hastings. As well, several
road ambulances and other emergency services were sent to
the scene.
David and Joyce, who suffered the worst injuries, were sent
to Palmerston North Hospital in separate helicopters, while
Colleen and Roy went in separate road ambulances.
“I’ve got nothing but praise for those St John
Ambulance people and the way we were treated by all the
people who helped us,” Roy says.
Joyce says she was “absolutely terrified” when
she was told she was to be taken to hospital by helicopter.
“I’ve never been in one before, and I’ve
always said I would die if it was to happen,” she
says. “But when they got me in there, it only took
about 10 minutes. It was very windy, and it was rocking
around all over the place, specially when we came through
the (Manawatu) Gorge.
“I was terrified, but I’m glad now that I went
in it.”
David said that although all he saw was the helicopter ceiling
during his trip to hospital, the pilot and crew were “marvellous”.
“They were talking to me all the way, telling me what
was happening, although a lot of it didn’t sink in
that much. And to think there was talk of taking the helicopters
away earlier on – where would we have been if the
helicopter had had to come from somewhere else? We probably
wouldn’t be here.
“They’re an essential part of the medical and
rescue system these days.”
Roy says he’s never been in a helicopter in his life,
“but what they did for my wife that day was just marvellous”.
“I’ve always admired the work they do. They’re
an absolute necessity.”
All four were admitted to Palmerston North Hospital from
the accident, with Roy, Joyce and David sharing a room,
and Colleen in another ward. Between them they have broken
hip joints, smashed facial bones, head cuts, fractured ribs
and massive bruising.
But all of them are enormously grateful to the rescue helicopters
and all the rescue people who helped them that day.
“Everybody was absolutely marvellous,” says
Roy. “Just marvellous.”
