On Saturday 15 October the Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter was called to rescue two people in separate incidents, both requiring the Port of Tauranga Rescue Winch.
In the first incident, a 32-year-old man had fallen over a 50 meter cliff at Omanawa Falls.
The rescue helicopter located the man, and then using the Port of Tauranga Rescue Winch, winched down a St John Paramedic to secure the man into a harness and bring him to safety.
The man was uninjured in the fall.
The Trustpower TECT Rescue Helicopter was then called to a tramping track west of Katikati.
A 60-year-old woman had become unwell with a medical condition while walking a loop track and was unable to carry on.
Due to communication issues, it took some time to locate the sick tramper and her two companions.
Once located, the woman was winched, via the Port of Tauranga Rescue Winch into the helicopter and flown to a farmhouse near Katikati.
The rescue helicopter then returned for her tramping companions, who were winched out due to fading light, as they were not prepared for a night in the bush.
