The team had been dispatched to transfer to Waikato a patient who had suffered a serious medical event.

That was on top of the two other missions for the day – to a medical event in Te Araroa (10.40am) and a motor vehicle accident at Hick’s Bay (2.40pm) – resulting in both patients being flown in stable condition to Gisborne Hospital.

Earlier in the week, on Thursday (3pm), the team had responded to a trauma at Tiniroto from where the patient was flown in stable condition to Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital.

Their reporting week ended on Sunday with a 1.15pm mission to Te Kaha where the on-board critical care flight paramedic treated two patients, both flown in stable condition to Whakatane Hospital.

CAPTION: BIG YELLOW BIRD: For most of the last reporting week the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter team has flown a bright-coloured cover aircraft (pictured at Hicks Bay) while their usual BK-117 helicopter has been out-of-hangar for maintenance.