Latest news with #RescueHelicopter
Scoop
30-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Greenlea Rescue Helicopter Carries Out 44 Life-saving Missions In June
Press Release – Greenlea Rescue Helicopter These missions included 26 inter-hospital transfers, three medical events, six rural/farm incidents, two motor vehicle accidents and seven miscellaneous missions. The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, which serves the Coastal Bay of Plenty region, carried out 44 life-saving missions throughout June. These missions included 26 inter-hospital transfers, three medical events, six rural/farm incidents, two motor vehicle accidents and seven miscellaneous missions. The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was frequently seen in remote locations such as Desert Road, Whakamaru, Murupara and Cape Runaway. The month started off with the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter being dispatched to Desert Road for a female who had sustained serious injuries following a motor vehicle accident. The patient was stabilised on scene for approximately 50 minutes before being flown to Rotorua Hospital for further treatment. On Thursday afternoon, June 5th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Tokoroa Hospital for a male who was experiencing a medical event. The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. On Friday afternoon, June 6th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Rotorua Hospital for a female who was suffering from serious injuries. The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital to receive further urgent treatment. On Sunday evening, June 8th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter flew to Murupara for a male who was in serious condition. The patient was flown to Rotorua Hospital to receive further treatment. On Wednesday morning, June 11th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Taupo Hospital for a female who was experiencing a serious medical event. The patient was tasked to Rotorua Hospital for further treatment. On Monday afternoon, June 16th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Rotorua Hospital for a female who was experiencing a serious medical event. The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital to receive further immediate care. On Tuesday afternoon, June 17th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter flew to Cape Runaway for a male who was experiencing a serious medical condition. The patient had set off his personal locater beacon. Once the crew had stabilised him on scene he was airlifted to Waihau Bay to receive further immediate care. On Friday morning, June 20th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Rotorua Hospital for a male who was in critical condition. The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital to receive further treatment. That afternoon, the rescue helicopter crew assisted a female in Whakamaru who had sustained injuries after a fall from a horse. The patient was treated on scene and airlifted to Middlemore Hospital for further treatment. On Saturday afternoon, June 21st, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Poronui for a male who had sustained injuries following a fall. The patient was stabilised on scene and airlifted to Rotorua Hospital for further care. In the early hours of Sunday morning, June 22nd, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Taupo Hospital for a male who had sustained injuries following a significant fall. The patient was stabilised on scene and airlifted to Rotorua Hospital to receive further treatment. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, June 24th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter crew were dispatched to Taupo Hospital for a male who was suffering from a serious medical event. The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital to receive further treatment. On Sunday afternoon, June 29th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Taupo Hospital for a female who was experiencing serious seizures. The patient was airlifted to Rotorua Hospital to receive further treatment. The month concluded with the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter being dispatched to Taupo Airport on the morning of Monday, June 30th, to assist a male who had sustained burn injuries. He was airlifted to Waikato Hospital to receive further treatment. That evening, the rescue helicopter also transported another male – suffering from a medical condition – from Rotorua Hospital to Waikato Hospital for continued care. What if… you could save a life? Donate to your Greenlea Rescue Helicopter today and help turn that 'what if' into someone's survival story > 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.
Scoop
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
NZ's Largest Sheep Dog Trials' Record-Breaking Support Of The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter
New Zealand's largest Sheep Dog trial event – Bayley's Sheep Dog Trials - kicked off on the 25th June to raise vital funds for the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter. From June 25th – 28th, this highly anticipated event attracted talented handlers and over 300 sheep dogs to the Fibre Fresh National Equestrian Centre in Aratiatia. Competitors came together in support of the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter and the life-saving service it provides for visitors and the community of the Central Plateau and Lakes Region 24/7, 365 days a year. Now in it's third year, the event is continued with the perspective: 'they are there for you when you need them the most… Time to repay the favour'. This year saw a record-breaking $36,000 raised entirely for the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, bringing the total raised by the event over the three years to an outstanding $86,798. Competitors were tasked with the challenge of instructing their dog to herd a group of sheep through a challenging course featuring nine obstacles, before finally guiding them into the final yard – all within 12 minutes. The competition was close this year, but Sheena Martin and her dog Shau took the top spot with an impressive final score of 98. 19-year old Holly Bird and her dog Jude were the winner of this year's 'Judges Choice' award, winning a Stihl Chainsaw package courtesy of Blackhills Fencing who have been long-standing supporters of the trials ever since it's inception in 2023. The Bayley's Shield was also on the line this year. The Waikato team challenged the current title holders – King Country - resulting in a head to head on Saturday morning. It was another close challenge but the King Country Team were able to defend the shield, coming away with 429.5 points and Waikato with 419.5. Along with many trials, this four-day event also had a number of other activities on offer including food trucks, auctions, retails stalls, and some incredible raffles. One of these raffles included a fantastic kids' motorbike valued at $3,000 donated by Huka Honda. This went home with one lucky winner - Colin from Hawkes Bay. Other raffle and auction items included: Greenlea Premier Meats Vouchers Greenlea Rescue Helicopter Hangar Tour Ārepa Drinks Supermarket hampers donated by Pak N Save Taupo Greenlea Rescue Helicopter crew members, Adam and Bondy came along to support the event on Friday and Saturday. They spoke to the crowd about how invaluable community support like this is for the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, allowing them to always to be there on what is often the worst day of someone's life. Both were deeply impressed with the level of skill on display, and moved by how the community rallied together so tremendously, with plans already made to return next year. "It's a true privilege to return to the Bayley's Sheep Dog Trials and be part of such a generous and supportive community that champions the work we do. Huge thanks to David and Sue Schaw, the amazing team at Bayley's Real Estate Taupō, and everyone who lent their support. Congratulations to all the well-deserved winners." – Bondy, Greenlea Rescue Helicopter Air Crew Officer. 'This is a first for me, to be part of this great fundraiser and I already look forward to being part of it again next year.' – Adam, Greenlea Rescue Helicopter Pilot. The pair were joined by Peter, a past patient of the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter who shared his story demonstrating how life-changing it was having the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter there after a tractor accident left him fighting for his life. Event organiser and driving force behind the event, David Schaw also understands the impact of the service on a personal level. After being involved in an on-farm incident, David experienced first-hand how the skill and response time of the rescue helicopter makes a critical difference. Much of the event's growth and outstanding success can be attributed to David's commitment to making each year more impactful than the last. 'Support the rescue helicopter today — you never know when you might need them.' – Dave Schaw. The unwavering support of the Bayley's Sheep Dog Trials each year goes to show the special significance this event holds with residents of the Central Plateau and Lakes District, especially the rural community with the understanding that the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter is often the difference between life and death for many patients. In 2024 alone, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was tasked to 90 rural or remote missions to provide life-saving care to patients in urgent need. This is among the 534 total missions attended by the rescue helicopter in 2024 and with every mission costing an average of $9,500, it's community support like this that makes the life-saving difference. A heartfelt thank you to all those who came together to make this event such a success including sponsors, attendees, competitors, and especially event organisers David and Sue Schaw, and the hard-working team at Bayley's Real Estate led by Yvonne Westerman. The fast response of the rescue helicopter and its highly trained crew ensures the patients receive the best care as quickly as possible. Because you never know when you'll need us… Donate to your Greenlea Rescue Helicopter at
Scoop
26-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter Completes 55 Life-Saving Missions In May
Press Release – Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was frequently seen in the Coromandel area due to the high number of medical emergencies in locations such as Waihi and Whitianga. The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter carried out 55 life-saving missions across the Waikato, King Country, and Coromandel regions throughout May. These missions included 34 inter-hospital transfers, four medical events, five rural/farm incidents, five motor vehicle accidents and seven miscellaneous missions. The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was frequently seen in the Coromandel area due to the high number of medical emergencies in locations such as Waihi and Whitianga. The month began with the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter being dispatched to Rotorua Hospital for a male who was experiencing a medical event. He was airlifted to Waikato Hospital to receive further medical care. Two additional medical emergency missions were carried out later that day. On May 3, three life-saving missions were completed by the rescue helicopter crew. One involved the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter flying to Horotiu to assist a female who was had sustained injuries following a fall while bike riding. The patient was stabilised at the scene for approximately 30 minutes before being airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. In the early hours of Monday morning, April 5, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter flew to Whakatane Hospital after being dispatched to assist a male who had sustained trauma injuries. The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. On May 8, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Waikato Hospital for a male experiencing a medical event. He was airlifted to Auckland City Hospital to receive further treatment. That evening, the crew completed one medical emergency-related mission and one trauma-related mission. On Saturday afternoon, May 10, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Wharepapa South to assist a male who had sustained serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident. He was treated on scene for over an hour before being airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was also in attendance. Later that day, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew also carried out an inter hospital transfer and responded to a second motor vehicle accident. The following day, May 11, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Manu Bay to assist a female in critical condition following a boat-related incident. She was airlifted to Waikato Hospital to receive further treatment. Later that afternoon, the rescue helicopter was tasked to Whitehall for a male who had sustained serious injuries in a quad bike-related incident. He was stabilised on scene for approximately an hour and a half before being swiftly airlifted to Waikato Hospital. On May 16, the rescue helicopter crew was dispatched to Te Aroha to assist a man injured in an animal-related incident. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital to receive further care. On Sunday afternoon, May 18, the rescue helicopter responded to a remote location in Te Akau, where a male had been injured in a motor vehicle accident. He was treated on scene before being airlifted to Waikato Hospital to receive further treatment. On May 24, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Mt Pirongia for a male who had sustained lower leg injuries after a fall while mountain biking. The patient was treated on scene and flown to Waikato Hospital for further care. On the morning of Tuesday, May 27, the rescue helicopter was dispatched to Taranaki Base Hospital for a man experiencing a serious medical event. The patient was transported to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. On May 30, the rescue helicopter crew flew to Kaimai-Mamaku Forrest Park to assist a male experiencing a medical event. He was airlifted to Tauranga Hospital to receive further treatment. The month ended with a mission to Waingaro, where the crew assisted a woman who sustained trauma injuries following a motor vehicle accident. She was treated on scene for approximately 50 minutes before being airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. What if… you could save a life? Donate to your Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter today and help turn that 'what if' into someone's survival story > helicopter/donate Notes: 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
GMA Network
22-05-2025
- Climate
- GMA Network
3 dead in Australia after torrential rain ravages rural towns
A woman holds a bag at a flooded house as she is rescued by a rescue personnel in Pampoolah, New South Wales, Australia, May 21, 2025 in this screengrab taken from a handout video. Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter/Handout via REUTERS SYDNEY, Australia - Flash flooding on Australia's southeast coast has killed three people and cut off towns, isolating tens of thousands of residents, as officials on Thursday warned more downpours were expected over the next 24 hours. Major flooding hit several rural towns in the Hunter and Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, with most of the Mid North Coast region facing further heavy rainfall through Thursday. Police said the body of a 63-year-old man was found in a flooded home near Taree, more than 300 km (186 miles) north of Sydney, while another body believed to be that of a missing man aged in his 30s had been discovered in flood waters on the Mid North Coast. The body of a 60-year-old woman was also found in her vehicle west of Coffs Harbour, police said. The woman had been cautioned against driving through the floods by an officer late on Wednesday, before becoming trapped and calling for help. Emergency services were unable to locate her in time. Police said they were still searching for a missing man. "This natural disaster has been terrible for this community," New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said during a media briefing. "There's 140 flood warnings, 50,000 people are in the range where they have been asked to prepare to evacuate and could be isolated, and there's been 9,500 properties in the direct vicinity. So, we're far from out of the woods here." More than 100 schools were closed on Thursday, while thousands of properties remained without power. Cundletown in the Mid North Coast has been entirely cut off by floods, said Nicole Sammut, a nurse caring for 67 elderly residents at an aged care home, which is also being used as a shelter by emergency teams. "I came to work on Tuesday and haven't left," Sammut told Reuters. "We are up on a hill but behind us is all water. We are isolated. I've never seen the water this high." The Manning River in nearby Taree had exceeded a 100-year-old flood record, emergency authorities said. Sherinah Peck was evacuated at 2 a.m. on Wednesday from her farmhouse on the river, but her belongings were swept away, with some furniture later washing up on the coast. As she searched Old Bar beach on Thursday, strewn with debris and dead and lost livestock, for a treasured bicycle that belonged to her late mother, Peck was knocked over by a cow and injured, she said. "The cow was distressed - a wave came. I had to scramble up the sand," she told Reuters. More heavy rain A slow-moving coastal trough has dumped about four months of rain over the past two days, cutting off entire towns and stranding residents on roofs and the second floors of their homes, as rescuers struggle to access the area by boat or air. Minns apologised to people who had to wait for several hours for rescue crews, but assured efforts had been ramped up with 2,500 emergency services personnel being deployed. Around 590 flood rescues had been carried out, dozens of them by helicopter, NSW Police said. The helicopters have also been directing more boat rescues. "Some significant rescues have been made but unfortunately we have lost a number of lives," Assistant Commissioner David Waddell said in a press conference. Australia's Bureau of Meteorology forecast that some areas could receive up to 200 mm (8 inches) of rain through Friday, triggering life-threatening flash flooding, before the weather system is expected to weaken and track south towards Sydney. — Reuters
NZ Herald
20-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
5 vehicle accidents among Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter missions in April
On April 3, the rescue helicopter crew performed multiple missions, including one in Putāruru to assist a male in critical condition. The critical care flight paramedic performed a rapid sequence intubation (RSI), an advanced airway management used in trauma, cardiac arrest or severe respiratory distress situations. The patient was stabilised and then airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. On April 5, the helicopter was dispatched to Rotorua Hospital for a female who had sustained serious injuries from a fall and required swift transportation to another hospital. She was flown to Waikato Hospital for further care. Two days later, the rescue helicopter was tasked to Matamata for a male who had sustained serious injuries in a fall. The patient was stabilised and airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. On April 10, the helicopter was dispatched to Te Aroha for a female experiencing a serious cardiac event. The onboard critical care flight paramedic performed an RSI before the woman was airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. The next morning, the rescue helicopter was tasked to Whangamatā to assist a male experiencing a serious medical event. The patient was stabilised on scene and flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. After completing several missions in the afternoon, the crew was later sent to Great Barrier Island Airfield for a male in critical condition. The patient was treated on scene for about 30 minutes before being airlifted to Auckland City Hospital. On April 12, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Tokoroa for a male who had sustained injuries. He was airlifted to Waikato Hospital to receive further treatment. On April 21, the helicopter was tasked to Mimi for a male who had sustained significant trauma injuries. The onboard critical care flight paramedic provided treatment before airlifting him to Waikato Hospital for further care. That evening, the rescue helicopter flew to Rotorua Hospital after being dispatched to assist a female who was in serious condition. The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. On April 24, the rescue helicopter was dispatched to Te Rerenga for a female who sustained serious injuries in a motor vehicle incident. The patient was treated on scene and, once stabilised, was airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further care. On April 28, the helicopter flew to Whitianga to assist a male experiencing a serious medical event. He was stabilised on scene before being airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. The month concluded with the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter being dispatched on April 29 to Gisborne Hospital for a male suffering from a medical event. He was flown to Waikato Hospital for further medical care. Meanwhile, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, which services the Central Plateau and Lakes region, carried out 30 missions throughout April. Among those were 13 inter-hospital transfers, two medical events, 10 rural/farm incidents and three motor vehicle accidents. The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was most often seen in Taupō and Rotorua, but also completed missions in remote locations including Mt Ruapehu, Ruatahuna and Wairakei.
