Sat 22/05/2010 16:43
The Wellington-based Westpac Rescue Helicopter has this afternoon winched a 49 yr old Wellington fisherman, suffering chest pain, off a boat in the Cook Strait.
The helicopter, with two Wellington Free Ambulance paramedics on board, was called at about 2.30pm this afternoon. The fishing boat, an 18 foot cabin boat, was located approximately 2km off Pencarrow head. After making contact with the boat by cell phone a paramedic was winched down to assess the patient.
"The weather conditions were good but the boat had a very small deck area, making the winch quite challenging" said helicopter crewman Colin Larsen.
The patient was placed into a special rescue harness and was winched back up into the helicopter, along with the paramedic. He was then taken to the Wellington Hospital Emergency Department where he is being further assessed and treated for his chest pain.
Colin Larsen
Life Flight Assistant Operations Manager
021 720512
NB - please refer to the helicopter as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter
