The crew on the West Coast are often dealing with the most challenging of conditions and an average mission length is longer due to the vast distances. We are blessed to now have Westpac NZ as our associate sponsor; this new level of support underpins the service on the West Coast.ย The Critical Care Paramedics on the coast are the highest qualified medical resource available for the community. In areas like the West Coast, when there is an emergency, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter is the only option and can be the difference between life and death.
We extend a sincere thank you to ROA Mining for their significant support of the service over 13 years. Their generous commitment ensured that the West Coast community had access to this vital emergency response capability. ROA Mining will continue to support their community through their sponsorship of the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service. This sister service to the rescue helicopters is a regular visitor to the West Coast transporting patients between hospitals to the higher acuity care they need.
Left to right โ Hernan, Peet, Joshua, Tom, Dazza
As well as fundraising to support missions on the West Coast we are working on a number of exciting projects to improve patient care and save more lives. Very soon, the existing BK-117 will be replaced with a state-of-the-art H145 helicopter that will have more advanced avionics. This will facilitate Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), allowing the crew to fly in lower cloud conditions, enabling the rescue helicopter to respond in more compromised weather conditions โ a real game changer for the West Coast. This will be accompanied by equipment upgrades and advanced training, so the crew are fully prepared for all missions.
Mission support
Can you contribute to the cost of a mission or fund a lifesaving mission?
You can support a complete mission
1 mission- $5,000
2 missions – $10,000
4 missions – $20,000.
Or give a monthly gift – $20, $30, $50, or your choice
Special Projects Development Fund
The West Coast community is currently served by a twin engine H145.
| MAKE/MODEL | Airbus H145 |
| ENGINE | 2x turbomeca arriel 2E turboshaft |
| SHAFT HORSEPOWER | 1072 HP each engine (one engine inoperative) |
| CREW | 1 pilot, 1 critical care paramedic, 1 paramedic / winch operator |
| MAX SPEED | 278kph |
| CRUISE SPEED | 238kph |
| RANGE | 651 kilometres |
| SERVICE | 1 HELICOPTER AND CREW ON CALL 24/7 |
| MISSIONS | 300+ AVERAGE PER YEAR JUST ON THE WEST COAST |
Our community and corporate sponsors are greatly valued. Without their support our service would not be able to operate. The Canterbury West Coast Rescue Helicopter Trust gratefully acknowledges the following companies whose generous support contributes to the efficient operation of a viable FREE Rescue Helicopter Service in our region.
๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป: ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ, ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ
๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ง๐๐ฝ๐ฒ: ๐ช๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐: ๐๐ผ๐๐ต๐๐ฎ, ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐๐ฟ๐๐, ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฟ๐
The advantages of the West Coastโs 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 Coastโs 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 Joshuaโs third job in the West Coastโs new H145 rescue helicopter, and his first night winch job.
โThe 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.
โThe 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.โ
Joshua says the H145 is also just nicer to work out of.
โItโs so much more ergonomic and provides more space to care for the patient. Itโs just way better!โ
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 Coastโs 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.
โ๐โ๐บ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ณ๐๐น ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ต๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ฒ. ๐๐ ๐ฎ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐น๐, ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ฎ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฟ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฏ๐๐ฟ๐ ๐ช๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฟ๐๐๐. ๐๐โ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ผ ๐ด๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฒ.โ
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
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter crews remember flying to this mid-Canterbury accident in December 2024. They did all they could to give the patients the best chance of survival.
So, imagine their delight when we recently received a letter from Shona and Trevor, updating us on their recovery and thanking their "mechanical angels".
Trevor and Shona - your recovery story made our day. Thank you for sharing.
Read their letter here: https://www.airrescue.co.nz/stories/a-horrific-crash-and-a-truly-life-saving-mission/
Or see the Patient Stories link in our Linktree
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