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Congratulations to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew of Kent, Karen, and Adrian who`ve been recognised at the Land Search & Rescue NZ Awards for a complex cliff rescue mission.
The mission in March 2025 involved rescuing a climber who`d been left hanging off the side of Mt Rolleston in the Arthur`s Pass National Park after his gear failed.
Working alongside Alpine Cliff Rescue Canterbury, the rescue crew got him - and his climbing buddy - to safety.
The team received a Certificate of Achievement at an Awards ceremony at Parliament this week, with the Award citation commending them for their exceptional judgement in executing a complex cliff rescue under pressure.
“𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲-𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.” 𝗡𝗭𝗦𝗔𝗥 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Congratulations Kent, Karen, Adrian and @alpinerescuecanterbury
Read more about the Award-winning rescue at the Latest News link on our LinkTree
@landsarnz
Meet Anton Drazevic - the new CEO of the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust.
We`re delighted that Anton has joined the team, bringing with him his 20+ years of experience in leadership, operations, and community impact.
Anton first encountered the rescue helicopter service 16 years ago, when a family member was rescued following a helicopter accident. He says that experience has stayed with him and is a big part of why he is so energised to lead the Trust team today.
“𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼 𝗱𝗼 𝗜. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝗽 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱-𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲.”
Welcome to the team Anton - it`s awesome to have you on board!
Find out more about Anton`s appointment at the Latest News link on our LinkTree
Need some inspiration for your Back to Base challenge?
Here’s a few real-life mission distances from the crew.
Choose the challenge that works for you – or set your own! No matter how you choose to move this August, do it for your rescue helicopters.
Sign up now.
www.backtobase.co.nz or see the Back to Base link on our LinkTree
It was Chris` wife who convinced him to set off his personal locator beacon - and he now admits her advice was right.
“𝗜𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝘆 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜’𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗻, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗽𝘂𝘀𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗻, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗽𝗮𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵!”
Find out more about Chris` life-long project to walk the Te Aroroa trail and the fall that sparked his rescue helicopter mission.
Copy the link below or see Patient Stories on our LinkTree
https://loom.ly/inKrgng
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