Helicopter winches hypothermic and unconscious elderly man to safety

Auckland Westpac Helicopter at Hakarimata Scenic Reserve near Ngaruawahia from where a hypothermic and unconscious elderly man was flown to Waikato Hospital. Photo / Auckland Westpac Helicopter

An elderly man found unconscious in a native forest reserve near Ngaruawahia was flown by Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition today.

The man, in his seventies, was found by passers-by alone and unconscious at the bottom of some steps of a walking track in a remote wooded area at Hakarimata Scenic Reserve.

The Westpac helicopter landed on a helipad at the top of the hill after a call-out at 9.20am. Crew walked 15 minutes into the forest to reach the man.

Intensive care flight paramedic Russell Clarke said the Hamilton man slipped on some steps on a popular walking track, suffering head and shoulder injuries.

Clarke said the man was lying in the shade of the canopy, cold, disoriented and suffering from mild hypothermia.

After receiving some urgent treatment, the injured man was winched aboard the helicopter about 35m through the canopy of the bush.

"It was quite a technical winch to get him out of there," Clarke said.