Mission Log

24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Below you will find a summary of our recent missions. Our life-saving services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and are completely free of charge to everyone in Hawke's Bay. For more information about our work please contact the Fundraising Team on 06 878 1630 or email mfm@hbhrt.org.nz

Forestry worker seizure

2 years ago - Thursday 28th July
• 0750 hours Tasked by Air Desk to Ellis Hut in the Ruahine State Forest where a forestry worker had a sudden unexplained loss of consciousness and seizures – the patient was flown to Hawke’s bay Hospital for follow up assessment and treatment.
• 1200 hours Tasked by Air Desk to a report of a drowning at Herbertville is southern Hawke’s Bay – the helicopter was stood down en route when it was confirmed the person was deceased

Missing persons seach

2 years ago - Wednesday 27th July
• 1230 hours Tasked by Police to conduct a search for a missing person near the bridge over the Mohaka River on SH-5 – the helicopter crew searched but was unable to find a missing person.

Vehicle in the river

2 years ago - Monday 25th July
• 1415 hours Whilst training tasked by Air Desk to respond to a report of a vehicle in a river at Ngamahanga Station – adverse weather prevent the helicopter and crew reaching the scene forcing the helicopter to turn back to base. (It was later advised that the vehicle in the river was an historic event, so helicopter was not required).

Grounded in Wairoa due to Visibility

2 years ago - Friday 22nd July
• 1415 hours At the request of the hospital flew to Wairoa with a Flight Nurse and our Critical Care Paramedic to retrieve a male patient aged in his 40’s, with sudden onset of an abdominal pain – he was flown to Hawkes Bay Hospital.
• 2330 hours At the request of the hospital flew to Wairoa with a Doctor and Flight Nurse to retrieve female patient, aged in her 60’s with a medical condition. On the return journey, after midnight, poor visibility was encountered which forced the helicopter and crew to return to Wairoa and wait for weather to improve at 0600 hours before returning to Hastings.

Chest pain and a medical situation

2 years ago - Tuesday 19th July
• 0700 hours Tasked by Air Desk to Tikokino to a 59 y/o male had woken with a chest pain. It was determined that the patient met the criteria for immediate transfer to Wellington Hospital.
• 1755 hours Tasked by Air Desk to Tuai, to a 89y/o female with a medical condition – she was flown to Hawke’s Bay Hospital.

Serious MVA on State Highway 5

2 years ago - Monday 18th July
• 1145 hours Tasked by Air Desk to a multi vehicle MVA on SH-5 near Tarawera. Sadly one person was deceased. The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter transported the next most critical patient, and female patient aged in her 60’s, to Waikato Hospital. The Westpac Helicopter from Waikato was the second helicopter to arrive at the accident scene and transported the next most critical patient to Hawke’s Bay Hospital.

Pregnancy complications and a stroke

2 years ago - Sunday 17 July
• 1600 hours At the request of DHB flew to Wairoa Hospital with a midwife and flight nurse to retrieve a female patient with pregnancy complications.
• 1915 hours Tasked by Air Desk to return to Wairoa to meet a St John Road Ambulance for handover of a female patient suffering from a stroke – the patient was flown to Hawke’s Bay Hospital.

2 patients winched to safety after their car skidded down a bank

2 years ago - Thursday 14 July
• 1353 hours Tasked by Air Desk to Waipataki Road where a car had skidded and slipped down a bank. The car was more than 100 metres down the steep hill. The 2 occupants self-extricated from the car. The rope rescue team from Fire and Emergency assisted one of the female occupants to the road, but the second occupant required recovery by winch. Thanks to the airbags and seat belts the 2 female occupants survived the vehicle tumble down of more than 100 metres down the steep hill. Both female patients were flown to Hawke’s Bay Hospital in a moderate (but shaken) condition.

Horse riding accident

2 years ago - Wednesday 13 July
• 1000 hours Tasked by Air Desk to Clive to a report of a female horse rider who had fallen in an inaccessible and broken her femur - the patient was flown to Hawke’s Bay Hospital.

Vehicle down an embankment

2 years ago - Monday 11 July
• 0800 hours Tasked by Air Desk to Waingake (near Gisborne) to a report of a vehicle down an embankment and a 42 y/o male occupant requiring a winch extraction. The patient was flown to Gisborne Hospital.