Busy April for Aerocool Rescue Helicopter with 36 Missions Across Coastal Bay of Plenty
- Holly Grundy
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
April was a busy month for the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter team, which carried out 36 life-saving missions across the Coastal Bay of Plenty region.
These missions included:
13 inter-hospital transfers
3 medical events
11 rural and farm incidents
2 motor vehicle accidents
7 miscellaneous emergencies
Tauranga saw the highest number of inter-hospital transfers, with four recorded. Whakatāne and Rotorua each followed closely with three transfers apiece. The rescue helicopter was also seen in remote locations such as Mōtītī Island and Waihau Bay, showcasing the wide area the team covers.
Call-Outs in the Eastern Bay of Plenty:
Tuesday, April 8 – The crew was dispatched to Waihau Bay to assist a woman in serious condition. After 20 minutes of on-scene treatment, she was airlifted to Whakatāne Hospital.
Friday, April 11 – A woman who sustained serious injuries from a fall in Galatea was stabilized for 1 hour and 30 minutes before being flown to Waikato Hospital.
Sunday, April 13 – The team responded to Te Puke, assisting a woman experiencing a serious medical event. She was treated for 30 minutes on scene, then transported to Waikato Hospital. Later that day, the helicopter flew to Ruatoki to assist a man injured in a motor vehicle accident. He was treated on-site for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes before also being flown to Waikato Hospital.
Tuesday, April 22 – The helicopter was dispatched to Ōpōtiki Airfield for a woman experiencing a serious medical event. She was airlifted to Tauranga Hospital for further care.
The fast response of the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter and its highly trained crew ensures that patients across the Eastern Bay receive critical care as quickly as possible.
Last month also saw the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter receive a fresh new paint job, now displaying the organisation’s colours: green, red, and black.
