Condition update

Waikato Hospital medical staff say the 37-year-old West Coast man involved in this incident, did not amputate or chop off his finger.
He came through the one and a half hour operation well and will likely be discharged either today or tomorrow.



Further to this release from the Youthtown Trust Rescue helicopter, a 37-year-old Dobson man underwent surgery last night to reattach the finger. The surgery lasted an hour and a half. He is stable in a ward and will undergo assessment by doctors this morning.

Mary Anne Gill
Director
Media and Communications
Waikato District Health Board
P.O. Box 934
Hamilton 3240
Ph: 07 834 3684
Mobile: 021 705 213
www.waikatodhb.govt.nz

Taupo Rescue Helicopter

1 September 2009

At midday today the Youthtown Trust Rescue Helicopter was called out to John Coull Hut in Wanganui National Park, a 37 yo male amputated his left index finger while clearing bush. He was chopping bush with a machete and accidently chopped his finger off, lucky he had a medical kit with him and he quickly bandaged his finger. He was treated by St Johns Advanced paramedics and flown to Waikato hospital 
for surgery.

Hendry de Waal
Pilot / Base Manager
Youthtown Trust Rescue Helicopter
taupo@rescue.org.nz

Date: 2 September 2009