A 10k reward has been offered after critical medical drugs and supplies were stolen from an air ambulance in Otago.
Helicopters Otago chief executive officer Graeme Gale said the theft took place from a Queenstown-based helicopter which had just taken a critically ill patient to hospital.
Gale said the stolen bag held critical medical equipment and supplies.
“If the helicopter and crew had responded to an incident, unaware that the bag had been taken, there could have been fatal consequences.”
Detective Sergeant Hayden Smale said the theft at the Taieri Airfield, about 5km west of Dunedin, was “concerning on many levels”.
“Beyond putting the lives of air ambulance patients at risk by taking these essential medical supplies, some of the drugs stolen pose a significant risk to anyone who may choose to take them recreationally.
The wrong combination or dosage could potentially be fatal and urge extreme caution for anyone who comes into contact with the items Smale said.
The police are still on the search for the culprit.
Photo Credit: Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust
