The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter crew completed five potentially life-saving missions in a single day, spending almost 17 hours responding to Bay of Plenty and Waikato emergencies.

The demanding shift began early on Saturday, August 8, when the helicopter was dispatched to Matakana Island to an injured man who had fallen, a media release from the Philips Search & Rescue Trust said.

After providing urgent medical care at the scene, the crew transported him to Tauranga Hospital for treatment.

Shortly after returning to base, the rescue helicopter was called to transfer a man in a life-threatening condition from Tauranga Hospital to Auckland City Hospital for specialist care.

The release said the busy afternoon continued with a mission from Rotorua Hospital, where a man experiencing a serious medical condition was airlifted to Waikato Hospital for ongoing treatment.

As night fell, the fourth mission involved transferring a man from Whakatāne Hospital to Rotorua Hospital after he suffered trauma-related injuries and required advanced specialist care.

Less than an hour after returning to base, the helicopter flew its final mission. A woman with a life-threatening medical condition was flown from Whakatāne Hospital to Tauranga Hospital. The crew returned to base shortly after midnight.

From Matakana Island to Whakatāne, Rotorua, Tauranga and Auckland, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter crew completed five urgent missions in one day, helping patients access critical care when they needed it most.

Having completed 619 missions during 2025, the service provides around-the-clock emergency and critical care transport, ensuring patients can access specialist treatment.

Service supporters have an opportunity to give back in “Run the Runway”, a unique 5km sunset run and walk on the Tauranga Airport runway, with proceeds to the rescue helicopter.