A major effort is underway to get a Kiribati man to hospital after he became seriously ill aboard a Japanese commercial fishing trawler in the Auckland Islands area.
The crewman has chest pains and a high temperature.
Two helicopters being managed by Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) are expected to reach Tomimaru 87 at about 1pm this afternoon when they will pick up the 34-year-old crewman and take him to Invercargill Hospital.
The Dunedin and Invercargill based helicopters left at about 9.00am this morning and will make a round trip of over 900 kilometres involving seven hours flying time and several refuelling stops.
The rescue helicopter is expected to reach Invercargill Hospital early this evening.
