Chopper
Appeal

𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗚𝗵𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱, 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁
𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝘆𝗽𝗲: 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘄: 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘁, 𝗭𝗮𝗰𝗸, 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was the only option to safely extricate an injured mountain biker from a remote West Coast track. Luckily for her, the H145 rescue helicopter had enough room to fit her mountain bike in too.

The woman was biking with a group of friends when she fell while coming down from Ghost Lake Hut – a section of the track which is quite technical.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter landed at the helipad near Ghost Lake Hut.

“The woman’s arm injury would have made it impossible for her to continue the ride. She needed treatment, and any delay in that treatment could have impacted her outcome and recovery. Sending in the rescue helicopter was the right call,” says Critical Care Paramedic Juliet.

When the rescue helicopter arrived, paramedics found the woman’s friends had already provided initial first aid.

“The group was well prepared and had a good knowledge of first aid. They had done a really good job before we got there, which made their injured friend far more comfortable.”

Because the woman’s injury was isolated to her arm, she was able to sit up in the helicopter. That meant there was room for her bike to be airlifted out as well.

“She was so thankful we managed to get her bike in the helicopter; otherwise it could have been very tricky to get it home!” Juliet says.

The woman, and her bike, were taken to Greymouth Hospital.

“It was a great outcome for the patient and, to top it off, it was a beautiful day for flying. The views were spectacular.”

𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟴𝟯 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

Find out how you can support the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and its missions at www.airrescue.co.nz.

Being a winch operator is not for the faint hearted. You`re standing on the skids of a rescue helicopter literally holding someone`s life in your hands.

Wayne was the winch operator involved in rescuing Rob, who was trapped in a boat. It wasn`t easy, as Wayne explains.

"𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝗼 𝗜 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗯’𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

“𝗔𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀. 𝗜𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿.”

Rob has shared his rescue story for this year`s Chopper Appeal. It`s one you don`t want to miss.

Read about Rob`s rescue here: https://www.airrescue.co.nz/stories/trapped-under-water-a-truly-life-saving-mission/

Help us save lives. Donate to Chopper Appeal here: https://www.airrescue.co.nz/chopper-appeal/

Or see the Chopper Appeal link on our LinkTree