NZ Defence Force evacuates DOC worker with 'potentially serious condition' from remote Antipodes Islands

March 6, 2018

A troop of 10 rangers, three sniffer dogs and the crew of HMNZS Wellington made the trip south for the operation 'Endurance' this week.

The New Zealand Defence Force has sent a vessel to the Antipodes Islands to evacuate a government staff member with a potentially serious condition, in its second medical evacuation in three weeks.

They re-tasked the offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Wellington, which was on a resupply mission in the Auckland Islands, on Saturday afternoon to evacuate a Department of Conservation staff member working on the Antipodes Islands.

The Antipodes are about 900 kilometres northeast of the Auckland Islands and 850 kilometres southeast of Bluff. The journey to the Auckland Islands or Bluff from the Antipodes takes up to two days at sea.

"We are pleased that we have been able to help and hope for the best possible outcome for the patient," Navy Captain Melissa Ross said after the ship arrived at Bluff this morning.

"We recognise that time is a crucial factor in medical emergencies. However, the patient could not be transported by helicopter because of the distance, so evacuation by sea was the only option."

DOC workers are on the island to determine if the operation to eradicate mice has been successful, which will protect wildlife including the Antipodes parakeet, pipit and snipe.


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