Justin is a Critical Care Paramedic on the Canterbury Westpac Rescue Helicopter. He’s also a triathlete-in-training and a fundraiser.
We chat to Justin about his role and why he’s taking part in Back to Base this year.
Why have you signed up to Back to Base 2026?
The Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust provides an incredible amount of support to the crew and the service. It’s thanks to the Trust that we enjoy state-of-the-art equipment that goes above and beyond what’s required, as well as additional training. The support the Trust provides really does make a difference to both the crew and the service.
Signing up for Back to Base is a way I can give back and do my bit to support the Trust’s incredible work.
It’s also a great motivator to kick off my training. I’m competing in a mini-triathlon in November and then a Half Ironman in May next year. So, this August I’ll be in the pool, on my bike, and pounding the streets as serious training gets underway!
Tell us about your journey as a Critical Care Paramedic?
I’m originally from South Africa, where I completed my paramedic training and qualified as a Critical Care Paramedic in 2013. I then worked as a paramedic on the road before heading overseas. I spent time working on a cruise ship before living in Qatar for five years, working for a fixed-wing aeromedical service. I also spent two years in the UK before deciding to come to New Zealand.
Why New Zealand?
New Zealand offered great career opportunities for my partner and me. In many parts of the world, there are separate services for rescue, medical, and inter-hospital retrievals, but here it’s one service and we get to do it all – and that’s a great opportunity.
It’s been very easy to settle here compared to many of the other places I’ve lived. It’s easy to feel at home. We’ve bought a house here now too, so we’re not going anywhere!
What do you love about being a paramedic on the rescue helicopter?
I love the rescue side of the role and the challenges it brings.
When it comes to rescues, we often don’t know what we’re going to when we take off. It involves a lot of logistics – managing the patient while dealing with other elements such as time, location, and weather. Making good decisions requires experience and judgement, as well as the ability to deal with chaos and make a plan.
I also love the scenery. We get to enjoy some beautiful landscapes and drop into some pretty remote places.
What might some people be surprised to hear about your job?
When we get winched down to a patient – we call it going ‘down the wire’ – a lot of what we do doesn’t involve treating the patient. It’s about using your experience to quickly ascertain how unwell the patient is, what we need to do to extricate them, and how to prioritise treatment against the need to get them back up to the helicopter.
You need to be able to read people and quickly understand the cues that indicate how unwell they are. It’s a juggling act.
