Hato Hone St John is devastated to share the news that we are grieving the loss of one of our own people, following a serious motor vehicle incident near Cambridge in the early hours of this morning.
A Patient Transfer Officer from Rotorua was the driver of an ambulance travelling from Hamilton to Rotorua when they were critically injured in a head on collision. The officer was airlifted to Waikato Hospital and despite a brave fight succumbed to their injuries and died with family by their side this afternoon. A registered nurse who was travelling as the attendant in the ambulance, was also transported to Waikato Hospital and is in a stable condition. There were no other passengers in the ambulance but the driver and sole occupant of the other vehicle tragically died at the scene.
The family have requested privacy at this time, therefore Hato Hone St John will not be releasing any names. However, what we can confirm is that the ambulance officer was a well-respected and long-serving member of the Hato Hone St John whānau. While their primary role was within the Patient Transfer Service, they were also active in their support of both Event Health Services and Emergency Ambulance. In recognition of their service, they were admitted to the Order of St John as a Member (MStJ) in 2004.
They are one of a very small number of ambulance officers to lose their life in the line of duty in New Zealand in the last 80 years.
Meanwhile, our focus remains on supporting our people and the Police with their ongoing investigations into the crash.
Please attribute to Dan Ohs, Hato Hone St John Deputy Chief Executive Ambulance Operations
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amy Milne
Hato Hone St John External Communications Specialist
M 027 5037523
E amy.milne@stjohn.org.nz
Or
Hato Hone St John media team
PH 0800 756 334
E media@stjohn.org.nz