SERVICES AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTRES WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER
A two-seater plane crashed in the Southern Alps area, near Aoraki Mt Cook, on the evening of 26 August 2007 with two people on board. The pilot managed to get out of the wreckage and go for help, raising the alarm from a musterers’ hut several kilometres away. This initial call initiated a major search and rescue operation.
Staff at St John’s Ambulance Communications Centre in Christchurch liaised with Rescue Coordination Centre NZ staff, based in Wellington, and the Police Southern Communications Centre in Christchurch. A Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to assist in the search for the patient who was still in the wreckage of the plane with multiple serious injuries. On board was St John advanced paramedic Rod Partington, who is specially trained for this type of work.
Once the wreckage of the plane was located, Rod was winched down to the site from the helicopter to treat and stabilise the patient. The patient was being stabilised by two searchers, who were literally supporting him and preventing him from sliding down the hillside. The patient was flown to Christchurch Hospital with Rod on board providing ongoing care.
This incident is an example of the co-operation between St John and Police – and their respective Communications Centres – and the Rescue Coordination Centre NZ.
