The Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Kaiwhaiki 11 km Northeast of Whanganui shortly after 8.30am on Monday morning. An All-Terrain Vehicle had rolled several times trapping the occupant. The driver of the vehicle, a man in his 30’s, had sustained multiple fractures and had suffered serious internal injuries.
Fortunately, the man was able to make a cellphone call to a family member which enabled a road ambulance and fire crews to locate him quickly. Upon arrival, the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter Intensive Care Paramedic treated and stabilised the man, while the Fire and Emergency team arranged equipment to secure and move the ATV to allow for his extraction.
The patient was carried on a stretcher a short distance to the rescue helicopter and flown to Whanganui Hospital where he underwent immediate surgery.
