The Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Pongoroa, east of Pahiatua, just after midnight on Saturday 18 February, to a single vehicle accident on SH 52. Poor weather at the scene prevented the rescue helicopter accessing the accident site, instead landing at the nearby township of Pongaroa.
The patient was stabilised at the scene before being transferred by a St John Ambulance road ambulance to the waiting rescue helicopter for onwards airlift to Palmerston North Hospital.
The helicopter was used due to the serious nature of the injuries and distance to hospital. The mission was flown with the crew using night vision goggles.
