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Injured mountain biker winched from Akatarawa's

Tuesday 24 January 2012, 8:55AM

By Life Flight

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PARAPARAUMU

A Life Flight Trust team has winched an injured mountain biker from the Akatarawa Ranges near Paraparaumu late [yesterday] afternoon. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter, with a Wellington Free Ambulance paramedic onboard, flew to the "Devil's Staircase"where the mountain biker was injured after falling from his bike.

"Ambulance communications was able to provide us a very accurate GPS point so we flew directly to the patient's location" says Life Flight Crewman Dave Greenberg. "We winched our paramedic down to the patient and after a quick assessment the pair were winched back into the helicopter and the patient flown to Wellington".

The 37 year old Petone man was part of a group of riders training for the upcoming Karapoti Classicis. He is believed to be suffering from non-life threatening chest injuries.

He was flown to the Wellington Hospital Emergency Department just after 4pm and he is currently being assessed and treated.

The Life Flight Trust is a charity providing air rescue and air ambulance services. It operates the Wellington based Westpac Rescue Helicopter and a national air ambulance service. It relies on support from the public and sponsorship from partners such as Westpac to provide these services. Further information can be obtained from www.lifeflight.org.nz