`Regional rescue chopper saved my life'

By ALISON BROWN in Rotorua
A Rotorua man who was nearly crushed by a tractor is urging ACC officials to rethink a proposal to cut back the region's air rescue services.

Neil Lunt credits the Tauranga-based rescue helicopter with saving his life after he suffered major injuries when a tractor rolled on top of him as he was working on his Dalbeth Rd property three-and-a-half years ago.

The 39-year-old believes he would not have survived his brush with death if it had not been for Tauranga's rescue helicopter which was called when air rescue services in Rotorua and Taupo were busy.

His plea for the status quo to remain comes as ACC Healthwise general manager David Rankin is reported as saying there are too many rescue helicopters in the Central North Island.

Helicopters are based at Rotorua, Taupo, Tauranga, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, New Plymouth and Hamilton.

But an Accident Compensation Corporation discussion document released in December omits Rotorua and Taupo from a list of first and second-tier centres for rescue helicopter services, although the report concedes more homework is required on coverage of the Central Plateau.

Mr Lunt, who is a stock agent, was driving a tractor up a steep hill on his 25-hectare property in July 2001 when it suddenly rolled on top of him. He suffered major injuries, including crushed lungs, a split liver, broken pelvis and a dislocated hip. His then three-year-old son McKenzie, who was watching nearby, ran home to tell his mother.

Emergency services were called but it was soon discovered Rotorua's rescue helicopter was tied up at Mt Ruapehu, taking an Aucklander with a broken leg to hospital. Taupo's Lion Foundation was out of action and, at the time of the accident, Tauranga's rescue helicopter was also busy.

Mr Lunt and his distressed family had to wait about half an hour for the Tauranga chopper to arrive before he was airlifted to Rotorua Hospital for emergency surgery. He spent two weeks in hospital and more than three months off work.

Mr Lunt said his accident proved it was vital to retain the existing number of rescue helicopters in the Bay of Plenty.

"I was very close to death. If there had been anymore delays I wouldn't be here," he said.

"If they say they can get by with one less helicopter, that might work for 90 percent of the time, but it's the 5 to 10 percent of cases where lives could be lost, and I have a major problem with that."

Federated Farmers Rotorua/Taupo president Jamie Paterson has backed critics of the draft plan, arguing the region's rescue helicopters were crucial for all those in isolated rural areas.

In a statement to The Daily Post, Dr Rankin said the draft strategy was not driven by a desire to cut costs, and if the proposals were implemented, it was likely ACC would spend more on air ambulance services.

Extra costs would include additional clinical staff, and more training for air ambulance crews. He urged anyone with an interest in the strategy to make a submission before February 24.

Meanwhile, organisers of petitions launched in Rotorua and the Eastern Bay of Plenty to save the region's rescue helicopters are overwhelmed with the public's response.

More than 5000 people have signed a petition distributed by National's East Coast candidate, Anne Tolley, while in Rotorua, businesses where petition forms have been placed have requested more forms. "People have been queuing to sign it in some places," Mrs Tolley said.

Signatures will be collected until the end of this month and then presented to local mayors, Parliament and ACC.