The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter continued to provide rapid critical care across the Waikato, King Country and Coromandel throughout October, completing 63 life-saving missions throughout the month.

Throughout October, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter attended to three medical emergencies, one motor vehicle accident and six miscellaneous missions. Rural missions remained steady at eight, reflecting the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter’s ongoing role in reaching patients in remote and hard-to-access areas. Urgent inter-hospital transfers made up just over 70% of all flights carried out by your Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew, transporting 45 patients to receive the medical care they needed. This is a significant 45% increase, rising from 31 transfers in September.

The start of October saw your Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter carrying out an inter-hospital transfer for a female patient who was experiencing a serious medical event at Waikato Hospital. She was swiftly transported to Auckland City Hospital to continue receiving the critical medical care she needed.

Friday October 10th was a busy day for the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew. The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Tokoroa Hospital for a female who was in serious condition. She was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. That afternoon, the rescue helicopter flew to Taupō Hospital for a male who was in serious condition. He was airlifted to Rotorua Hospital for further treatment. That evening, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Tokoroa for a female who was suffering from a serious medical event. She was swiftly flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. The rescue crew then transported a patient from Taumarunui Hospital who was experiencing a serious medical event. He was flown to Waikato Hospital where he could receive the medical care he required.

The morning of Saturday, October 18th, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Port Waikato for a male who was in a serious condition following a water-related incident. The onboard rescue crew treated the patient at the scene before airlifting him to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. Later that morning, the rescue helicopter was tasked to Oparau for a female who was in a serious condition. She was stabilised on scene and flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. That evening, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Taumarunui Hospital for a female who was experiencing a medical event. She was transported to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.

On Sunday, October 26th, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew assisted a male in Marokopa who was suffering from a serious medical event. He was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. That afternoon, the rescue helicopter was tasked to Ongarue for a male who was in serious condition. He was treated on scene and flown to Waikato Hospital for further care. Later, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter transported a patient who was suffering from a medical event from Rotorua Hospital to Waikato Hospital, so he could receive the medical care he needed.

The end of the month saw your Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter assisting a patient in the Coromandel suffering from a serious medical condition. The patient was transported from Coromandel Airfield to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.

These missions highlight the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter’s vital role in ensuring patients across the Waikato, King Country and Coromandel receive timely medical care. Whether transferring critically ill patients between hospitals, responding to emergencies in rural communities, or providing urgent medical support, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter remains rescue-ready when every second counts.

The service relies heavily on community support to remain operational. By donating today, you help keep the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter in the air, ready to respond whenever and wherever it is needed - Donate to the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter | Philips Search and Rescue Trust

Background:

Philips Search & Rescue Trust (PSRT) is the charity responsible for fundraising and promotion of the North Island’s largest pool of community rescue helicopters.

PSRT was founded in 1985 after an endowment by Philips New Zealand Limited to mark a light aircraft accident near Turangi in which two Philips personnel lost their lives.

Encompassing a fleet of rescue helicopters, the service provides air health and rescue services free of charge to the public on a no-fault basis. The rapid response is powered by an expert crew of Pilots, Air Crew Officers and Critical Care Flight Paramedics.

In a life and death situation it is this speed and agility of the rescue helicopter that can make all the difference, with patients able to receive medical treatment as soon as the rescue helicopter arrives and continuing whilst en route to a medical facility.

Philips Search & Rescue Trust fundraise for and support:

Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Waikato, King Country, Coromandel 

Aerocool Rescue Helicopter, Bay of Plenty Coastal Region

Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, Central Plateau and Lake’s Region

Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter, Manawatu, Whanganui

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