Starting at a carpark, the pair walked about two or 3km along the beach, before taking a nap in the dunes. Photo / Supplied
Starting at a carpark, the pair walked about two or 3km along the beach, before taking a nap in the dunes. Photo / Supplied
A woman woke up from an evening nap in remote sand dunes to find her walking companion barely conscious and requiring a helicopter flight to hospital.
The Auckland Rescue Helicopter was called to Whatipu, in the Waitakere Range on the west coast of Auckland, just before 7pm yesterday.
"One ofthe females had a medical complaint, which has resulted in her having a lower level of consciousness," Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust paramedic Ross Aitken said.
"The other female with her alerted emergency services."
Starting at a carpark, the pair walked about two or 3km along the beach, before taking a nap in the dunes.
Mr Aitken said the women had been there for a few hours at least.
Fire and ambulance were also called out but were then stood down when the helicopter found the pair.
"We assessed the patient as being in a critical condition. We then airlifted the informant to the carpark so she didn't get lost, because there was fading light. We airlifted the patient to Auckland City Hospital in a critical condition," Mr Aitken said.
