Busy 48 hours for rescue chopper

A woman was airlifted from the Tongariro Crossing after falling and dislocating her shoulder.

The rescue took place on Wednesday and capped off a busy 48-hour period for the Taupo-based Greenlea Rescue Helicopter.

The woman fell at Soda Springs and was flown to Rotorua Hospital in severe pain.
While in Rotorua the helicopter was re-deployed to the Waioweka Gorge between Opotiki and Gisborne to a crash involving a minivan, tanker and ute.

A man in his 70s was flown to Whakatane Hospital with chest injuries.

Earlier the helicopter went to Ahititi, Taranaki, where a man was burnt when his radiator exploded. He was flown to Waikato Hospital.

On Monday, a child with a severe allergic reaction to a bee sting was flown from Turangi to Rotorua Hospital, and two rafters were recovered from the central North Island Ngaruroro river following the activation of a beacon.