The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Kawhia just after midnight this morning, to retrieve a man in his 60’s who had suffered a cardiac incident. The man was transported to Waikato Hospital for cardiac care.
Within minutes of landing, the crew was then sent to Mangaorongo, east of Otorohanga, to another cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, the patient died shortly after the rescue helicopter arrived.
A few hours later, the crew were tasked to Huntly, to retrieve an 86-year-old man who suffered a stroke.
This was immediately followed by a flight to Aria for a motorcycle rider who was injured during a motocross event. The 9-year-old male came off his bike when he tried to avoid hitting another motorcycle, and was reportedly struck by a third cycle. Both patients were flown to Waikato Hospital for further evaluation and treatment.
At 7.15pm the pager went off again requiring the rescue helicopter to retrieve a 16-year-old Auckland female from West Te Kauwhata. She sustained a fracture to her right leg in a motocross crash. She was transported to Middlemore Hospital.