Ill Marsden Point worker helicoptered to hospital

A worker who became critically ill while working in a fuel tank at the former Marsden Point oil refinery in Northland has been rescued by helicopter.

The incident occurred about 3.20pm Thursday at what is now Channel Infrastructure, at the entrance to Whangārei Harbour.

A spokeswoman for Channel said the man suffered a medical event while working.

The incident occurred in a disused tank, not one of the tanks being upgraded to increase the nation's fuel reserves.

A St John spokesman said a rapid response unit, an ambulance and a Northern Rescue helicopter responded.

The patient was flown to Whangārei Hospital in a critical condition.

Fire crews from the Ruakākā and Whangārei brigades responded because the callout was initially coded as being due to a hazardous substance.

A WorkSafe spokesman said the agency was not investigating because the emergency was the result of a medical event rather than a workplace accident.