The Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter traversed all land directions of the region – from north to west to south – in carrying out the eight missions completed in the seven days from Monday, February 26.

The week was off to a brisk start on the Monday with a 9am call to a medical event at Tikitiki, from where the patient was flown in stable condition to Gisborne Hospital.

And it continued with:

– February 27, 10.45am – The team was dispatched to an accidental Personal Locator Beacon activation at Matawai.

– February 28, 10.40am – They flew to Wairoa in response to a trauma, with the patient flown in stable condition to Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital (Hastings).

– February 28, 5.30pm – Later that same day they responded to a medical event at Te Araroa, from where the patient was transported in stable condition to Gisborne Hospital.

– March 1, 9.20am – The Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter was called to a medical event at Ruatoria, with the patient flown in stable condition to Gisborne Hospital.

– March 1, 1pm – Not long after their return to the hangar the team returned to the East Coast, this time to Te Puia Springs from where the patient was again flown in stable condition to Gisborne Hospital.

– March 2, 6.30pm – The Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter carried out an inter-hospital transfer of a patient in serious condition from Gisborne Hospital to Waikato.

– March 3, 2.30am – Sunday started with an early-morning mission to a medical event at Tokomaru Bay, from where the patient was flown in stable condition to Gisborne Hospital.

CAPTION: TEAMWORK: Hato Hone St John and Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter teams prepare to transfer their patient from ambulance to helicopter during a mission to Te Puia Springs on Friday.