Coastguard volunteers attend medivac in Bay of Islands

At 1420 hours today, Coastguard Northern Region’s Communications and SAR Response Centre was called by a member of the public who witnessed a male fall from his yachts trapeze causing him to crash down on to his vessel and was in need of assistance.

Coastguard Bay of Islands’ rescue vessel, Bay Rescue, was tasked to the scene arriving at 1435 hours. The patient was suffering from a gauge in his upper arm and severe bleeding with numbness to the other arm.

On arrival to the distressed, Coastguard volunteers treated the patient by stopping the bleeding and administering oxygen. Bay Rescue then transported the patient back to Waitangi Wharf to meet an awaiting ambulance.

Coastguard takes this opportunity to remind people of the importance of carrying two forms of waterproof communication on board and familiarising themselves with Coastguard’s marine VHF channels before heading out on the water.

Peter Seymour-Nash, Duty Officer for Coastguard Northern Region, says “the correct use of marine communications was the reason for Coastguard’s quick response to this incident.”

For more information on Coastguard or our VHF marine radio operator courses, visit www.coastguard.org.nz.