Rescue chopper busy collecting patients on the East Coast lately

The Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter had a wet landing during its mission to Ruatoria on Sunday, August 20. Picture supplied

A growing demand for service from the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter continued over the last week with a packed schedule of rescue missions.

In the seven days from Monday, August 14 the team flew a total of eight missions, of which seven took them up the East Coast.

The remaining mission was in response to a medical event at Māhia.

“The team does have a very broad area of operation but demand on the East Coast has been higher than ever,” said Eastland Rescue Helicopter Trust chair Patrick Willock.

“That said, if at all possible they will go when they are needed, to where they are needed — which is often some of the most remote, hard-to-reach parts of our region and beyond.”

Missions recorded for the week until midnight Sunday included:

• A medical event in Tokomaru Bay (August 14, 10.30am), with the patient flown in a critical condition to Gisborne Hospital;

• A medical event at Mahia (August 14, 9.30pm), patient flown in a stable condition to Gisborne Hospital;

• A motor vehicle accident at Anaura Bay (August 15, 4.30pm), patient flown in a stable condition to Gisborne Hospital;

• A medical event at Te Puia Springs (August 16, 1.38pm), patient flown in a stable condition to Gisborne Hospital;

• A medical event at Tikitiki (August 16, 5.30pm), patient flown in a stable condition to Gisborne Hospital;

• A medical event at Waihau Bay (August 17, 10.26am), patient flown in a stable condition to Whakatane Hospital;

• A medical event at Ruatoria (August 18, 8.12am), patient flown in a stable condition to Gisborne Hospital; and

• A medical event at Ruatoria (August 20, 8.20am), patient did not require transport.

The team also responded to another call-out (August 19) that took them towards Te Araroa before they were stood down due to weather conditions.