Chopper saves Marlborough Sounds diver

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A Life Flight helicopter crew rescued an injured diver from Robin Hood Bay in the Marlborough Sounds this morning.

Life Flight crewman Colin Larsen said the South Island man in his 50s was getting out of the water after a dive when his foot became trapped in a rock crevice. He managed to release the foot but suffered moderate injuries to his leg.

The man’s dive buddy raised the alarm at about 10am, he said. A Westpac Rescue Helicopter with a Wellington Free Ambulance paramedic on board rescued him from a narrow beach backed by steep cliffs.

The paramedic was winched onto a rocky outcrop where he stabilised the injured leg then both men were winched back into the helicopter.

‘‘It was looking like he could possibly have fractured his leg,’’ Mr Larsen said.

The weather was calm and the rescue reasonably straightforward, he said.  

The diver was flown to Wairau Hospital in Blenheim where at 5pm, the duty manager said was in a comfortable condition after being admitted for observation.

- © Fairfax NZ News