St John southern region regional operations manager Doug Third was responding to the release on Wednesday of the SDHB's debriefing report, which discussed the emergency response to the commercial jet-boat crash on the Kawarau River on September 25.
Chinese woman Yan Wang (42) was declared dead more than an hour after the accident, after a 45-minute resuscitation attempt at the scene failed, but a second attempt to revive her was later made at Lakes District Hospital.
The SDHB report said a lack of information from the accident scene meant the second attempt was made, despite medical staff being "fully aware that it was unlikely to have a positive outcome".
Yesterday, Mr Third said in a statement he had "full confidence" in St John staff, including an advanced paramedic, who worked in a "challenging environment" at the scene.
"Patient care is of the utmost importance to St John. Everything we do, we do to help people. We do everything humanly possible to save lives."
Asked why the second resuscitation attempt was made, Mr Third said he was "not prepared to speculate on why the decision was made".
"That is a matter which only the Southland District Health Board staff involved can provide an accurate answer for."
Otago and Southland health boards' deputy chief executive Lexie O'Shea has been asked repeatedly what the reasons for the second resuscitation were, but has so far declined to answer.
Last week, she told the ODT the second resuscitation attempt was a "clinical decision" she could not discuss, and on Wednesday she said the debriefing was continuing and outstanding questions could not yet be answered.
The debriefing identified 25 issues to be addressed by those involved, including St John, and Mrs Wang's death was to be considered by the coroner.
