Police mercy run after weather leaves patient trapped

A police constable drove through snow and icy conditions to reach a seriously ill woman who could not be airlifted from Fox Glacier overnight due to the weather.

State Highway 6 between Franz Josef and Fox Glacier in Westland had been closed before the ambulance service told police at 3am that a woman at the Fox Glacier medical centre was suffering from a cardiac condition.

It was not possible to transport her to Greymouth Hospital by helicopter or ambulance because of the conditions so the patient's condition was monitored and it was hoped she could be transferred in the morning.

However, at 5am her condition worsened.

The Whataroa police constable was contacted and managed to drive through the snow and icy conditions to Fox Glacier in his 4 wheel drive where he collected the patient and a nurse.

Inspector John Doherty said: "A slow trip was then made back to Franz Josef where an ambulance was able to complete the trip to Greymouth Hospital."

- NZ HERALD STAFF