Daring Rescue Wins Award

Members of the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter team were presented the NZSAR Certificate of Achievement for Operational Activity on Tuesday night in recognition of the daring rescue.

On the 18 June 2015 the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was called to assist in the search and recovery of four missing hikers in the Tongariro National Park.

The rescue; carried out in fading light and freezing conditions was the ultimate example of teamwork and coordination.

Presented by Associate Minister of Transport, Honorable Craig Foss, the NZSAR Certificate of Achievement for Operational Activity is awarded in recognition of important contributions to search and rescue in New Zealand.

The hikers, who had been caught out by the setting sun and the cold conditions, were located on the western slopes of Mt Ngauruhoe.

The steep mountain slopes turned into a solid sheet of ice, so slick and hard that all four experienced and well- equipped hikers fell. They were all separated and perched on the icy slopes between about 6500 and 7000 feet in altitude, sustaining injuries ranging from cuts and bruises from the razor sharp ice, to fractured bones and the onset of hypothermia.

The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter flew in two RARO teams onto the side of the mountain and hover-loaded them out onto the treacherous icy slopes in the dark.

The RARO team performed the difficult and extremely dangerous task of trekking to and stabilising the injured parties, before anchoring themselves to the steep slope to allow for the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter to return and pluck the injured from the icy slopes one by one.

Base Manager and Pilot Nat Every said, ‘This was well-run, highly organized rescue, involving LANDSAR Turangi, NZ Police SAR, Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation, St John Ambulance Taupo and the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter resulted in the safe recovery of each of the four hikers.’

Nat also recognised Greenlea Premier Meats who are the naming rights sponsor of the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter. ‘Without Greenlea’s support this mission, and many others, may not have been possible’, he said.

Representatives from Greenlea attended the award ceremony, including managing director, Tony Eagan, he said, ‘Greenlea is privileged to work with the Philips Search & Rescue Trust in supporting the Taupo-based rescue helicopter. We congratulate the men who participated in this heroic rescue, and we thank all of those who generously provide their time and service to provide these often life-saving missions.’

The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter is one of six rescue helicopters operated by Philips Search and Rescue Trust, New Zealand’s largest air rescue organisation. Secretary David Wickham, joined Base Manager and Pilot Nat Every at the awards evening.

‘Philips Search and Rescue Trust are extremely proud of the team and our fellow search and rescue organisations who train tirelessly to ensure they are rescue ready for situations just like this one’, said David Wickham, ‘the outcome couldn’t have been better for the four hikers involved, the alternatively is unimaginable.’

Philips Search and Rescue Trust (PSRT) is a charitable organisation, operating rescue helicopters throughout the Central North Island. Philips Search and Rescue Trust relies on support from principal sponsors and community donations. Special thanks to Taupo’s principal sponsor, Greenlea. This crucial financial support ensures our rescue helicopters can continue to bring life-saving equipment, rescue personnel and trauma-trained medics directly to the patient. For further information about PSRT visit our website rescue.org.nz

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