Greenlea pilots conduct hectic, non-stop week

Greenlea Rescue Helicopter crew members have been clocking up serious air miles this snow season with 14 missions flown by pilots.

On Friday night the crews transferred a man to Rotorua Hospital after he was run over by a 4x4 ute he was loading onto a truck.

On Saturday three fisherman had to be plucked from the Tauranga-Taupo river after rising water prevented them from returning to their car.

Sunday required a man to be rescued off the Northern end of Waihi beach and taken to Taupo hospital.

Three snow missions were also launched during the week, starting on Monday when a man with chest pain, and suffering from hypothermia in the Ureweras needed to be rescued.

The crew was hampered by a lack of visibility and communication in the area.

On Tuesday a man had slid a considerable distance on ice on Mt Ngauruhoe and was reported injured by his travelling companion.

‘‘The companion had taken three hours to get to a place she could raise the alarm,’’ Pilot Nat Every said.

The man was lucky to survive the fall, but was in a substantial amount of pain.

‘‘Despite this he was able to make his way out to the road end,’’ Every said. ‘‘However the seriousness of his injuries required him to go to Waikato Hospital.’’

Another daring rescue occurred on Wednesday after police were alerted to a woman who had slid off the ridge near the summit of Mt Tongariro.

‘‘She managed to stop herself, but was left stranded on a steep, icy slope,’’ Every said.

‘‘She thought if she moved it may well have been her final act.’’

‘‘If she had slid any further it was likely she would not have survived the fall or would have been seriously injured.’’

Rescue workers were flown to the ridge by Greenlea and were able to secure her and get her back to flatter ground.

The woman was overwhelmed by her experience and was not sure how much longer she could perch on the steep slope.

‘‘She thought if she moved it may well have been her final act,’’ Every said.

During the week the helicopter also took part in seven medical transfers.

The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter had a busy week with 14 missions flown over six days last week.