July has been reasonably steady with the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter undertaking 49 missions and transporting 46 patients.
The ski season is upon us now and with limited snow, we have been called to retrieve six skiers this month from Central Otago, Ohau and Tekapo.
There have also be three neo-natal intensive care retrievals, one each from Invercargill, Oamaru and Dunstan Hospitals.
The rescue helicopter also attended a mountain bike accident in Balclutha, farm accidents in Weston and Owaka and motor vehicle accidents in the Manuka Gorge, Tapanui and Waimate.
The beginning of July involved the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter being called by the police SAR team to two surfers who had been swept off the coast near Smaills Beach and had been missing for about an hour.
The helicopter was dispatched winch-capable, meaning a paramedic along with a crewman/winchman were on board.
While flying to Smaills Beach an update was obtained via radio from the police.
On reaching the coast, two males were spotted on a rocky outcrop known as Bird Island and once the helicopter was hovering overhead both persons indicated they were uninjured.
This allowed for the helicopter to hover nearby the persons while the crewman assisted them into the helicopter which then transported the men to the SAR team waiting at Smaills Beach.
Once again, a mission likes this shows the diversity and the ability to respond with the appropriate configuration within the helicopter.
The rescue helicopter left Taieri Airfield this day prepared for the possibility of a winching and/or SAR mission while still being able to provide care to the patient should they require assistance by the advanced care paramedic on board.
Luckily this time, these services were not required with it being necessary to locate and transport two uninjured stranded persons from the island to the mainland.
A great outcome for all involved.
