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The results of the Rescue Warriors fundraising cycle ride have just been announced - and it`s incredible.
$𝟯𝟲𝟰,𝟬𝟱𝟳.𝟰𝟱
That`s how much these mid-Canterbury blokes have raised for our MISSION 2026 campaign and the rescue helicopter service.
The final tally was announced at a celebration event in Ashburton tonight.
We are simply in awe at what these mid-Canterbury blokes have achieved for themselves, the rescue helicopter service, and the community. Our most heartfelt thanks to the Rescue Warriors, their families, and every individual, organisation and business who donated to the ride.
"𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗻, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵,” 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀.
Read more here on our website.
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸, 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲
𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲
𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘄: 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗵𝘂𝗮, 𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀, 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆
The advantages of the West Coast’s new H145 helicopter were evident in this night winch rescue off Peak Hill Track.
The rescue helicopter was requested at this job by fire and ambulance crews on the ground. They couldn`t get the patient out due to the steep terrain and scree slopes.
With the Canterbury Westpac Rescue Helicopter unable to take off due to weather, the West Coast’s Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called to help.
A Critical Care Paramedic was winched down to the patient. Initial assessments were carried before the patient and paramedic were winched up into the helicopter.
With deteriorating weather in Christchurch, the decision was made to transfer the patient to the care of Hato Hone St John.
This rescue was West Coast Paramedic and Winch Operator Joshua’s third job in the West Coast’s new H145 rescue helicopter, and his first night winch job.
“The lighting on the H145 is amazing. It has a massive light on the tail that gives amazing vision down-the-wire for winching and illuminates the area below the helicopter where the patient is.
“The winch on the H145 is also faster so you spend less time over top of the patient and medic, meaning you can get in and out a bit quicker.”
Joshua says the H145 is also just nicer to work out of.
“It’s so much more ergonomic and provides more space to care for the patient. It’s just way better!”
The Canterbury and West Coast rescue helicopter service is operated by GCH Aviation. While located on separate sides of the main divide, the crews work side-by-side, supporting each other to provide cohesive coverage across the region.
The West Coast’s new H145 helicopter is the first of three new H145s the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust has purchased for the service. The second H145 is in service across Canterbury. The third is currently being commissioned and is expected to be mission-ready in the coming months.
It`s always a great day when the dogs come to work #fridayfloof
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew training our stars of the future with the NZ USAR Search Dog Association.
@usarnz_k9
Some people think because they live in a city, they won`t need the rescue helicopter.
Think again.
Christchurch woman Patrice was running in the Port Hills when her knee gave out and she heard a snap. The only way out was the rescue helicopter.
Patrice never expected to need the rescue helicopter - especially not from the Port Hills - but the terrain left no other option.
“𝗜’𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲. 𝗔𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁, 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗶𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲.”
Read Patrice`s story here: https://www.airrescue.co.nz/stories/the-rescue-so-close-to-home/
Or see the Patient Stories link on our Linktree
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