An injured crewman from a Japanese fishing trawler was safely airlifted from the vessel, more than 200km from shore, and taken to Dunedin Hospital this morning.
The Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) received an emergency call about the injured man on board the Tomi Maru 87 at 11.15am yesterday.
The trawler was then 385 nautical miles (700km) south east off the coast of Dunedin.
A 25-year-old male crewmember, from Kiribati, had his fingers crushed in an accident onboard the vessel yesterday morning.
As the vessel was outside the range of emergency aircraft, RCCNZ organised a pick-up point closer to shore.
Two helicopters, one to airlift the injured crewman and one to act as cover, met the trawler about 120 nautical miles from shore at 9.30am today.
The paramedic who travelled back with the patient said his condition was stable and comfortable. He had suffered moderate injuries to his hand.
The crewman will now undergo surgery at Dunedin Hospital.
Medical assistance from a doctor located in Wellington was yesterday given to crew on the trawler by way of a telephone conference.
The response was coordinated with the assistance of Helicopters Otago and Southern Lakes Helicopters.
