Dramatic Sea Rescue by Westpac Rescue Helicopter off Whitianga Coast

A dramatic sea rescue took place on Friday 20 nautical miles offshore from Whitianga.

Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter  Crew  were tasked by the Rescue Coordination Centre at approximately 11am on Friday to approximately 20 nautical miles offshore Whitianga to assist with the search and rescue of a male patient in his 20s suffering a medical complaint on board a vessel.

The Rescue Helicopter team located the boat and  retrieved the male patient by winch who was then flown to Auckland City Hospital in a moderate condition.

This was not the only rescue by the Auckland Westpac Helicopter team on the Coromandel on the Matariki weekend. On Thursday evening Westpac 2 was tasked to Whitianga to assist a female patient in her teens suffering a medical condition. She was flown to Thames Hospital in a moderate condition.

On Friday at 6:12pm the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was back in Whitianga to assist a male patient in his 70s suffering a medical complaint. He was flown to Waikato Hospital in a serious condition.

Then again on Saturday the Westpac crew were tasked to Whitianga at 6:37pm to assist a female patient in her 30s suffering a medical condition. She was flown to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.

To top off a busy weekend the Westpac crew were tasked to Manaia on Sunday at 1:33pm to assist a male patient in his 70s suffering a medical complaint. Transportation to hospital by helicopter wasn’t required and crew returned to base.