Gavin Bratty, seven years on.
March 29th, 2011
In 2004, 11-year-old Gavin Bratty, was on his way home from a weekend of snowboarding with a group of friends when their van was struck by an oncoming vehicle. Thirteen people were seriously injured in the accident and three Rescue Choppers were called to the scene. Gavin had such serious ‘brain shake’ that he was not expected to survive. But …
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Gavin’s Dad’s story.
March 29th, 2011
When Peter, Gavin’s Dad, found out that Gavin had been in a terrible accident, his first thought was that they were going to lose a second child. The doctors told him that even if Gavin did make it, it was likely he’d have some degree of brain damage. They made the decision to let the doctors perform a …
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Richie McCaw Chopper Challenge Winners
June 7th, 2011
This Chopper Appeal, Richie McCaw challenged all schools in New Zealand to raise money for their local Rescue Chopper – with the school that raised the most money by 31 May 2011 based on their roll winning a visit from Richie McCaw and their local Rescue Chopper on 15 June 2011.
The competition was an even playing field with the total amount of money raised by a school divided by the school roll as it is registered with the Ministry of …
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Ursula Dunn’s story
May 19th, 2011
A trip to White Island went horribly wrong for 64 year old Rotorua resident Ursula Dunn when she slipped near the highest point of the island. She fell hard, landing on the side she had recently had a hip replacement on.
Her hip was dislocated and she couldn’t be moved so the rescue chopper was called, transferring her directly to Rotorua Hospital.
Ursula says she’s very grateful for what the chopper crew did …
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Rachelle Stables’ story
May 19th, 2011
Rachelle Stables had just bathed her dog and had walked outside to hang up the washing when she slipped and fell on to her back. She couldn’t move at all and got one of her children to bring out the phone so she could ring the ambulance.
Suspicion of a fractured pelvis saw the ambulance crew ring for the chopper which flew Rachelle directly to Rotorua Hospital’s emergency department. The injury ended up being muscular …
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Anthony Lindsay’s story
May 19th, 2011
It was Easter 2010 when 50 year old Anthony Lindsay contracted a very rare respiratory problem. He was initially admitted to Tauranga Hospital but his life depended on an urgent transfer to Waikato Hospital.
“I was on a respirator life support system and my body was in complete shut down. They needed to get me to Waikato Hospital and road transport wasn’t an option because I needed to get there very quickly,” says Anthony.
The chopper flight to Waikato Hospital …
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Anne Clark’s story
May 19th, 2011
When Anne Clark set out tramping to celebrate a friend’s birthday, the last thing she expected was to become the centre of attention herself.
In early December, Anne, her husband Murray and two friends were enjoying a three day walk on the Waitakere Ranges’ recently opened Hillary Trail when suddenly Anne’s foot slipped off the track. Anne, along with her heavy pack, tumbled dangerously and landed awkwardly with her foot unnaturally twisted …
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