The Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter flew six potentially life-saving missions during this period.
Thursday 22 September – A morning mission to Kumeroa after a car had come off the road and gone down a bank. The 40-year-old male driver sustained back injuries and due to his location, his extraction required the use of the helicopters rescue hoist.
Saturday 24 September – An afternoon mission, tasked by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre, for a beacon search near the Iron Gate Hut, in the Ruahine Ranges. The party in distress was located quickly in the river valley. The crew were able to hover load the injured member into the rescue helicopter and airlift the them to a nearby location for treatment.
Monday 26 September – An evening mission, tasked by the Rescue Co-ordination Centre, for a beacon search in the Orongorongo River Valley, near Wainuiomata. Five teenage boys required extraction from their location using the helicopters rescue hoist. They were then transferred to Turere Hut, cold and wet but uninjured, where the remainder of their party was located.
Wednesday 28 September – An afternoon mission to Ohakune for a 70-year-old woman with a medical emergency. The woman was stabilised by St John paramedics before being airlifted to Whanganui Hospital.
Friday 30 September – An afternoon mission to Raetihi for a 50-year-old woman with a medical emergency. She was stabilised by St John paramedics before being airlifted to Whanganui Hospital.
Sunday 2 October – An afternoon mission to a property near Eketahuna for a 13-year-old girl after she had come off her motorbike in a paddock. She sustained chest injuries and was stabilised by St John paramedics before being airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital.
