Wairarapa bee sting victim flown to hospital by Westpac Rescue Helicopter

The Wellington based Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called just after
lunchtime today to a man who had suffered an allergic reaction when he
was stung twice on the face by bees.

The helicopter with two Wellington Free Ambulance Helicopter Paramedics
on board was dispatched to an address in Homewood, approximately 5km
south of Riversdale Beach.

A Wairarapa Ambulance Service crew arrived at the scene shortly before
the helicopter and found the patient to be in a stable condition.

"The mans wife was able to administer drugs to counteract the allergic
reaction" said helicopter crewman Colin Larsen. He went on to say, "an
allergic reaction can become a life threatening condition very quickly,
so without his wife's help the patient's condition could have been far
worse".

The man was transported by helicopter to Masterton Hospital and is
expected to be released later today.