Storm Delays Landing Of Plane With Surgery Case
(New Zealand Press Association)
PALMERSTON NORTH, March 1
An Air Force DC3 carrying a Palmerston North youth to Green Lane Hospital for urgent heart surgery circled Auckland Airport in stormy weather for about half an hour from midnight waiting to land.
The injured youth, Graham William Payne, aged 18, suffered chest injuries in a car collision six miles from Palmerston North on Saturday night. The medical superintendent at Palmerston North Hospital (Mr K. R. Archer) said it was decided last night to send Payne to Green Lane Hospital where he could receive specialised treatment at the cardio-surgi-cal unit there.
The operations officer at Ohakea Air Force base (Flying Officer J. J. Freehly) said the base was called at 9 p.m. last night and asked to fly the youth to Mangere. The aircraft was airborne by 10.30 p.m. and landed at Auckland two hours later.
The youth was taken to Ohakea by ambulance and was accompanied throughout the trip to Green Lane by Dr. D. Marris, of Palmerston
North Hospital. Two Ohakea medical section staff, Flight Sergeant T. A. West and Leading Aircraftswoman W.
J. Ray, also went on the flight. Flight Sergeant West said this morning that the youth had received a continuous transfusion throughout the trip. He was strapped to a stretcher because of turbulence. “We ran into an electrical storm near Auckland and struck a lot of turbulence,” said the flight sergeant. “The trip usually takes 90 minutes, but were were circling round Auckland for more than 20 minutes.”
Flight Sergeant West said the aircraft remained in Auckland while Dr. Marris went into Green Lane Hospital with the injured boy and returned later. The plane took off for Ohakea at 1.30 a.m. today and arrived at 3 a.m.
Mr Archer said this morning that the hospital was grateful to the Air Force for its part in getting Payne to Auckland. “We’re very fortunate in having the Air Force here.” he said.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CV, Issue 30998, 2 March 1966, Page 3
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331Storm Delays Landing Of Plane With Surgery Case Press, Volume CV, Issue 30998, 2 March 1966, Page 3
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