Helicopter rescue for Arrowtown pharmacy medical event

The Otago rescue helicopter was part of an emergency response this afternoon to a medical event at the Arrowtown pharmacy.

The patient is believed to have suffered a heart attack or similar medical event while in the pharmacy.

An attempt by the rescue helicopter to land in or near the middle of Arrowtown was abandoned due to the lack of a clear landing area.

The town was full of midday tourists at the time.

An ambulance crew treated the patient inside the pharmacy for around 30 minutes before meeting the helicopter at the cricket club next to Millbrook.

Crux understands that the patient has survived and is being flown to Dunedin hospital