Eastland Rescue Helicopter pilot and base manager Shaun Stewart said summer traditionally brings an increase in rescue callouts.

“With schools winding down for the year and people spending more time outdoors enjoying the sunshine, we often see a wide variety of incidents,” he said.

Recently, the rescue crew responded to an incident involving a school trip at Lake Waikaremoana. Clear skies allowed the team to arrive swiftly, assess and treat the patient, and transport them directly to Waikato Hospital.

The crew also attended a farming incident in Waingake, where the patient was assessed and treated by the on-board critical care paramedic before being flown to Gisborne Hospital in a stable condition.

A medical event in Ōpōtiki required urgent response, with the patient treated and flown to Waikato Hospital in a critical condition.

Last weekend, the team was dispatched to a trauma incident in Tolaga Bay. The patient was assessed, treated and transported to Gisborne Hospital, also in a critical condition.

“Saving time means saving lives,” Mr Stewart said. “Minutes matter, and we’ve got a great crew who are ready for action 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”