Paramedic completes New Zealand rescue mission despite his helicopter crashing

A paramedic has hiked to rescue a walker despite his own helicopter crashing during the mission in thick bush south of Auckland, New Zealand. Photograph: John Kershaw/Alamy

A paramedic in New Zealand has continued with his rescue mission, and completed it, despite the helicopter he was in crashing en route to help an injured hiker.

The paramedic was travelling to Pirongia Forest Park, about two hours south of Auckland, when the Waikato Westpac rescue helicopter he was in came down. Authorities say the helicopter experienced a “heavy landing” at about 5pm with photos of the scene showing the red and yellow aircraft nose down, wedged between trees in thick bush.