Chopper ends daily summer patrol

As the summer holidays draw to a close the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and SkyCity Auckland are celebrating the success of the daily SkyCity Beach Patrol.

The daily service came to an end last weekend but continues as a weekend service until Easter.

The initiative saw the helicopter take a regular return run from its base in Mechanics Bay, up the east coast to Omaha Beach and back down west coast beaches.

Trust chief executive Bob Parkinson says the proactive service was in addition to the standard callout arrangement which saw the Westpac Rescue Helicopter respond to callouts for emergency accident, medical or search and rescue purposes.

Mr Parkinson says the patrol was a great addition to its community service.

"We have been able to provide reports on beach and traffic conditions, and on several patrols we have been tasked for emergency missions. This has enabled us to provide an extremely fast response, thereby ensuring the best possible outcome."

Among the beach patrol's missions was a December 27 incident where a young boy suffering a cardiac arrest at Whangateau was breathing but unresponsive.

The helicopter took him to Starship hospital for treatment.

On January 9, the beach patrol was called by the ambulance to help a 50-year-old man almost drowning at Whitianga. The crew took him to Middlemore Hospital.

The Westpac helicopter went to Kawau Island on January 16 to take a woman in her mid-40s suffering severe abdominal pains to Auckland Hospital.

The next day it was back at Leigh for a man with severe chest pains who was also taken to hospital.

In addition to the standard crew of an advanced paramedic, pilot and crewman, the patrol includes a lifeguard provided by Surf Lifesaving Northern Region.

- © Fairfax NZ News