The rescue chopper waits at Port Waikato during one of its 21 callouts for the Christmas period. Photo/supplied
The rescue chopper waits at Port Waikato during one of its 21 callouts for the Christmas period. Photo/supplied
The two Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopters have been kept busy over the Christmas period, with multiple medical emergencies, injuries while out on walks, and a man who shot himself in the leg.
The crew flew to Parakai on Boxing Day after a man shot his own leg.
The patient hadbeen hunting on a farm in an isolated area with a friend, and was stowing the gun in a ute when it went off.
He had thought the firearm was unloaded, a rescue chopper spokeswoman said.
Callouts on Tuesday included winching a woman in her 60s off an isolated walking track after she slipped and fractured her foot, picking up a 19-year-old woman who injured her foot at the summit of Mt Karioi, and helping a 16-year-old boy who accidentally ran into a concrete step and injured his leg at a camp.
On Christmas Eve the crew were sent for a 4-year-old boy suffering fainting spells. He was flown to Thames Hospital in a moderate condition.
On Christmas Day a woman on a boat 50km offshore from Kaipara had to winched off and taken to hospital in a serious condition.
