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If you ever need rescuing, there`s two words Steve Houston wants you to know. Hey Siri!
When the horse Steve was riding flipped and landed on him, Steve felt everything breaking. He thought his phone was broken too, so he walked home. That walk was excruciating. By the time he got home, he couldn`t talk. He needed the skill and speed of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
“𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲 ... 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗜 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.”
The mission to save Steve was one of 175 missions to North Canterbury last year. In total, the Westpac Rescue Helicopters were called out on 1,081 missions during 2025.
Recently Steve was reunited with the crew who rescued him. Read his story at the Patient Stories link in bio.
Why do we exist?
To ensure the communities of Canterbury and the West Coast have a world-class rescue helicopter service. It`s why the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust was established in 1989, and it remains at the heart of everything we do today.
How do we achieve that? By focusing on our purpose – raising funds, investing in improved patient outcomes, ensuring sustainability, and representing and advocating for our community.
Join us.
www.airrescue.co.nz
link in bio
And that`s a wrap on 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲!
It`s been a phenomenal year, with 24,643 kilometres travelled and $90,798 raised. We`ve seen workmates come together for the cause, had families and friends form teams, and connected with incredible businesses who have come up with the most inventive (and exhausting!) ways to support the service (we`re looking at you @flexfitnessbelfast!)
We`ve also had the privilege of meeting people who have been picked up by the rescue helicopter and - in one case - reuniting them with their crew.
Thank you to everyone who took part in Back to Base, their support crews, and all those who donated to their fundraisers. Thank you also to our incredible sponsors who helped make it all possible: PurePods, Fitness NZ, Pure Sports Nutrition, The Crafty Weka Bar, Flex Fitness Belfast.
Want to read more about this year`s Back to Base success or keen to register for Back to Base 2027? See our Latest News - link in bio.
@purepods @fitness.net.nz @puresportsnutrition @craftywekabar_official @flexfitnessbelfast
It`s always special when those whose lives have been saved are reunited with the people who saved them.
It was a privilege to welcome Trevor and Shona to the GCH Aviation Air Rescue Base last week and to reunite them with Critical Care Paramedics Cameron and Kath.
Cameron and Kath vividly remember the horrific car crash which left Trevor and Shona fighting for their lives. It was a difficult rescue mission, but seeing Trevor and Shona return to the base to thank their crew in person was very special.
Read more about Trevor and Shona`s rescue mission on our Patient Stories page. Link in bio.
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