Another Successful Rescue Chopper Appeal in Southland

Forty five keen cyclists raised $42,000 for the annual Westpac Chopper Rescue Appeal in May, by biking from Invercargill to Queenstown.

Southland has played its part in the annual appeal for the past 11 years, and so far already raised $753,000 from its yearly 245km bike ride.

Spokesperson Reece McDonald said Phil Taylor has participated in every one, while John Douglas and Erin Criglington have both done 10.

Some local businesses give generously every year to the ride, and this year H&J Smith offered a sizeable donation, he said.

Six of the participants who regularly ride have used the helicopter service before, including Reece who suffered a heart attack in 2019.

He was just six weeks out from participating in the bike ride when he was rushed to Dunedin Hospital for life-saving surgery.

Unfortunately he also missed the ride this year as well as he was recovering from Covid, but went along as support crew.

The Lakes District Air Rescue Trust (LDART) has provided 24/7 emergency and aerial rescue services over much of the southern region of New Zealand since 1991.

From bases at Queenstown and Te Anau the contracted helicopter operators Helicopters Otago EMS Limited and Southern Lakes Helicopters provide an experienced and integrated service dispatched through the St John Communication Centre, NZ Police or the National Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) based out of Wellington.

Unfortunately, these services are not fully funded by the agencies which employ the regions operators, and thus the provision of service is heavily dependent on continuing sponsorship and additional support from many successful companies, organisations, trusts and individuals.

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