Response in fatal shooting best available: St John

St John says it is satisfied that everything possible was done to get to a rural property at Otaki beach where a woman had been shot. File photo / NZ Herald

St John has cleared its staff of blame for any delay in attending a fatal Kapiti shooting last month, where firefighters decided to call in off-duty paramedics rather than wait for an ambulance.

Stacey Lake, 23, a mother of two, died in Wellington Hospital on May 9, the day after being shot at Otaki Beach.

The first to arrive were police and firefighters, who gave her first aid but they became so concerned with St John's response they called off-duty paramedics to the scene themselves. The paramedics borrowed the firefighters' medical equipment to treat the woman and a helicopter and paramedic eventually arrived from Palmerston North to take her to Wellington.

The Fire Service queried the delay and why nearer ambulance crews were not able to help.

Following an investigation into its response, St John said it was satisfied that everything possible was done to get to the rural property, based on crews available, the nature and location of the scene and the emergency workload at the time.

"At the time of receiving the call about the shooting, all five ambulances in the area were assigned to other high priority calls including a car accident, two cardiac arrests, a stroke and an accidental overdose," spokeswoman Sarah Martin said.

The helicopter and paramedic was the most appropriate resource, she said.

Under a memorandum of understanding with the Fire Service the service responds to some ambulance calls when an ambulance is not immediately available or has been delayed.

"Fire personnel are trained to provide an appropriate level of care until ambulance paramedics can get to the scene."

Ms Lake's partner Tuaine Bevan, 26, has been charged with murdering Ms Lake.

- NZPA