How you can support us…
If you`re in Christchurch today, keep an eye out for the Westpac Chopper Appeal collectors. We`ll be around the city centre, the airport and Fendalton Mall all day, and at Barrington Mall this afternoon.
𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗼𝗮
But here in Christchurch, our official street appeal is happening next Friday, 16 May – so you won’t see our bucket collectors out just yet.
That said, the stories of the Westpac Rescue Helicopters are being shared loud and clear today – on TVNZ Breakfast in adverts, and across our website and social media.
If you’d like to support the crews who are there when every second counts, you can make a donation online today:
www.airrescue.co.nz/chopper
Or, if you`d prefer to give in person, keep an eye out for our friendly volunteers next Friday around:
🔴 Riverside Market & City Mall
🔴 Fendalton Mall
🔴 Christchurch Airport (near Arrivals/Departures)
🔴 Barrington Mall (early afternoon)
Whether you give now, next week, or simply help share the message, thank you; Every bit of support helps to keep everyone across the regions safe.
Together we are Greater
𝗪𝗲’𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘆
Riley`s life took an unexpected and devastating turn two years ago after a dirt bike accident, and that sound was relief for his parents, knowing help was on its way.
This year, despite the challenges he`s still facing, he took part in the cycling stages of the Coast to Coast to raise funds for the Rescue Helicopter because he knows how important the service is when it`s really needed.
Read more about Riley`s story on our website and 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 to help us to keep the helicopter equipped and the crew trained to the highest standard possible so that when you or your family need them they can be there.
Link in our bio
Huge congratulations to Hernan Holliday and Zack Armstrong who were tonight each awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Operational Activity by NZ Search and Rescue for the rescue of a tramper trapped between boulders in the Taipo River.
Critical Care Paramedic Hernan and crewman Zack both work for @gchaviation on the ROA Mining Rescue Helicopter in Greymouth.
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On 14 July 2024, a tramper’s foot became trapped between boulders in the Taipo River. The women’s companion activated a personal locator beacon. Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre tasked the GCH Aviation – Greymouth helicopter to respond.
At the scene, the helicopter crew did not receive any homing signal from the beacon, so they used a visual search to locate the party in distress.
It was a clear and frosty mid-winter’s day. By the time Zack and Hernan reached her, the tramper had been trapped in fast flowing chest-deep water for approximately 40 minutes and was becoming unconscious due to the cold.
Her foot was firmly wedged between two boulders and held there by the strong current. The two crewmen began to try to free the woman and Zack had to submerge himself several times to see the nature of the entrapment. Freeing her required coordinated and intense physical effort, which took more than five minutes of exposure to the very cold and swift waters.
After freeing the woman, the crewmen pulled her to shore and began re-warming treatment and other medical assessments. She was soon raised by winch to the helicopter along with her companion and flown to hospital to be treated for hypothermia and a leg injury.
