On Easter Monday, 22 April 2019, Rescue Coordination Centre NZ commenced a search just after 8pm, for a missing helicopter and three people onboard, which had disappeared near the Auckland Islands during a private medical evacuation off a fishing vessel.
Maritime New Zealand confirmed wreckage from the helicopter was discovered by a fishing boat just before 10am this morning and subsequently, a rescue helicopter located the missing trio, on a beach on the north-eastern side of Auckland Island before midday today.
One of the people on board the helicopter was a paramedic, who works for St John in Te Anau.
St John is very pleased and relieved the group is safe and well and is now receiving medical treatment. We are providing support to the family of our paramedic and to his St John colleagues. His family feel a huge relief and is looking forward to being reunited with their husband and father later tonight. They thank everyone for their interest and well wishes and ask for you to respect their privacy at this time.
- Please attribute to Pauline Buchanan – St John District Operations Manager Southland/Otago.
-ENDS-
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Beverley Tse
St John Communications Advisor
M 027 318 1553
E beverley.tse@stjohn.org.nz