Key Takeaways
- Police incorrectly concluded a child had died in a cliff accident, leading to a delayed rescue response.
- Fire and Emergency NZ expressed distress and frustration over the delay, citing recurring problems with getting air ambulance helicopters to transport their lines rescue teams.
- The rescue team was eventually dispatched via road transport, rather than helicopter, resulting in a longer response time.
- Police have apologized for the mistake and acknowledged that they did not ask the necessary questions to categorize the situation correctly.
- The incident highlights communication gaps and procedural issues between emergency services, including the use of air ambulances and lines rescue responses.
Introduction to the Incident
The incident in question occurred on January 11, 2025, at Hahei, where a 13-year-old girl and her 12-year-old boyfriend were climbing rocks. The boy fell to his death, and the girl became stranded on the cliff face. The Hahei volunteer firefighters, St John ambulance, and a chopper with a winch from Ardmore responded to the scene. However, the police incorrectly concluded that the child had died, leading to a delayed rescue response.
Communication Breakdown
The Fire and Emergency NZ emails from the night of the rescue expressed distress and frustration over the delay. The communications shift manager emailed that the police had declined a helicopter to transport the lines rescue team, citing cost as the reason. The manager also mentioned that this was not an isolated incident and that Fire and Emergency NZ had encountered similar problems with getting air ambulance helicopters to transport their lines rescue teams. The police later acknowledged that they had not asked the necessary questions to categorize the situation correctly, leading to the delayed response.
Procedural Issues
The incident highlights communication gaps and procedural issues between emergency services. The Fire and Emergency NZ emails referred to a change in procedure by St John, which required police approval for air ambulances. The emails also mentioned that the police dispatchers and those from ambulance, the airdesk, and Fire and Emergency had tried their best, but the police late shift had only just come on and were not briefed on the situation. The shift manager added that the team was left waiting for approval for actions they were not briefed on, leading to significant delays.
Response Time and Rescue Efforts
The rescue team was eventually dispatched via road transport, rather than helicopter, resulting in a longer response time. The lines rescue team left Hamilton in a ute at 8.51pm and arrived at Hahei at 10.31pm. They had to move in the dark through the bush above, taking huge care not to dislodge any rocks, before going down on ropes about 100m to the stranded girl. The log at 11.59pm recorded her finally down on the beach. The police have since apologized for the mistake and acknowledged that they did not ask the necessary questions to categorize the situation correctly.
Aftermath and Review
The incident has come to light after RNZ inquiries into a separate callout of a lines rescue team. The Fire and Emergency NZ manager wrote that the Hahei call-log appeared to show police declined the request for a helicopter, citing cost. The manager also mentioned that the team had struggled to find the right words to convey the frustration and urgency of the matter. The police and Fire and Emergency NZ communications teams for Hahei were on the same floor of an Auckland building, highlighting the need for better communication and coordination between emergency services. The incident has sparked calls for a review of the procedures and communication gaps between emergency services to prevent similar delays in the future.
Conclusion
The incident at Hahei highlights the importance of effective communication and coordination between emergency services. The delayed response time and incorrect conclusion by the police led to a longer and more complex rescue effort. The Fire and Emergency NZ emails and the police response highlight the need for a review of the procedures and communication gaps between emergency services. The incident serves as a stark example of the difficulties encountered by emergency services due to procedural gaps and miscommunications, and the need for a more coordinated and effective response to emergency situations.