Auckland City Hospital awash with helicopters - Stuff

Space for rescue choppers to land on Auckland City Hospital's roof helipad was at a premium after lunch on March 14.

Unusually, four landed within minutes of one another after flying in patients from the Hauraki Gulf and Northland.

Two were from Northland Rescue Helicopters and the others were Westpac Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust choppers.

They all landed within three minutes of each other at around 2.30pm.

Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust spokesman Lincoln Davies said a fifth helicopter had to land at the trust's Mechanics Bay helipad.

"It's the first time this has happened that I know of," Westpac Auckland Rescue Helicopter pilot James Tayler said.

One of the Auckland choppers had flown a woman in her 50s to the hospital from Onetangi on Waiheke Island.

She had a medical condition but was in a moderate state on arrival.

The other Auckland chopper, flown by a Whitianga crew, had picked up a man in his 60s from Claris on Gt Barrier Island.

He was suffering from a medical complaint and was in a moderate condition.

But the two black and white Northland Rescue Helicopter crews had more urgent missions.

One arrived with a newborn baby from Whangarei on board, while the other was carrying a 73-year-old man from Tamarata suffering a traumatic brain injury.

Northland Rescue Helicopter service administrator Sandie Thornton said there were no more details yet available about either patient.