TECT Rescue Helicopter's busy New Year's Day included winching man from Mauao summit

TECT Rescue Helicopter rescued an elderly man on New Year's Day after he collapsed near Mauao Summit. Photo / File

The TECT Rescue helicopter crew was kept busy on New Year's Day with three callouts within the space of a few hours.

Mid-morning a 23-year-old man who suffered a spinal injury after diving into a swimming pool was flown from Whakatāne Hospital to Waikato Hospital in the TECT Rescue helicopter.

According to TECT Rescue Helicopter's website, the helicopter crew then headed to Patetonga where two cars had collided on State Highway 27 resulting in injuries to several people.

This included a 42-year-old American woman with serious injuries who was flown to Waikato Hospital.

Before leaving Waikato Hospital, the helicopter was called to Mount Maunganui to assist a 79-year-old man to had collapsed near the Mauao summit.

The helicopter landed near the summit and the paramedic on board walked to the patient who was lying on the walking track.

Due to the location of the patient, it was decided to winch him into the helicopter and the was the patient was stabilised and flown to Tauranga Hospital.