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Northland’s Electricity Rescue Helicopter Appeal

With Northland’s population closing on the 160,000 mark, Chairman of the Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST), John Bain, estimates around one in 19 Northlander’s have been helped since the first flight in November 1998.

Listen to our audio of radio interviews and real life stories.

Northpower is proud to have been on board as principal sponsor since NEST’s inception over two decades ago.

“Since 1988, well over 12,000 rescue flights have been made and more than 1700 lives have been saved.” Elton Haakma - Co-Pilot.

Northpower continues to run the annual fundraising appeal and by doing so ensures that every dollar raised by Northlanders goes towards the service. Every year Northpower and Top Energy match public donations dollar for dollar up to $150,000.

Such a significant contribution is vital to helping keep this lifesaving service in the air throughout the Northland region.

Northland’s Electricity Rescue Helicopter has clearly touched the lives of a great number of people throughout New Zealand.

Given the region’s rural isolation and the response times associated with deploying road-based rescue services, the rescue helicopter performs a critical function.

Visit the Northland Emergency Services Trust website

Case Studies

Ron Nicholas

Ron Nicholas sports a wry smile when he ponders the worst pain he has experienced in his life.

Despite being exposed to burns from an exploding phosphorous smoke grenade in World War II, the Arapohue farmer reckons being run over by his tractor was far worse.

Not only did it dent his pride, the accident left him with a broken pelvis, broken ribs, a punctured lung, crook shoulder and heavily bruised body.

For a man who had always rammed home the importance of safety around farm machinery, Ron’s one lapse could have cost his life.

As the 2011 Northland Electricity Rescue Helicopter Appeal launches, Mr Nicholas is challenging farmers to take more care around machinery.

He is also urging Northlanders to give whatever they can to the Appeal.

“This is an essential service - so important for an area like Northland that has such challenging geography. It is critical not only for the farming community but for all communities in Northland, so locals need to support it because it is here for everybody” says Mr Nicholas.

“Unfortunately it has given me publicity for the wrong reasons but if my story can help others then that’s great because heaps of farmers have accidents with tractors, quads and other machinery”.

“I remember lying on the ground in excruciating pain with those injuries and the greatest sound I heard coming out of the sky was the rescue Helicopter. Thankfully it reached me very quickly but I still had six weeks in hospital – and all because I didn’t apply the brake.

“But the staff aboard the Rescue Helicopter was superb. I can’t speak highly enough of them and I will certainly be throwing my support behind them again this year.  My encouragement to everyone is just give what you can - every little bit helps for this great life saver - and you never know when you might need it.”

 

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Davinia Donovan

Northland’s Electricity Rescue Helicopter saved Davinia Donovan’s life.

What started as a normal day turned into a nightmare affair for the then six-year-old and her parents Ed and Tyler.

Because after experiencing a bout of asthma-induced wheezing shortly after breakfast, the vibrant Coopers beach girl was soon fighting for survival.

She was put on a nebuliser and soon after began fitting. Her usual smile was long gone.

Seven cardiac arrests later, she was aboard Northland’s Electricity Rescue Helicopter and in a life and death dash from Kaitaia Hospital to Auckland’s Starship. It was the second time in two years she’d required emergency helicopter care from the service.

Unable to breathe for herself, she lay motionless as paramedics forced air into her in a desperate attempt to keep her alive and ensure her brain didn’t become oxygen starved.

As her Dad sat bedside on board the chopper, she went from pale to blue and then seemingly purple.

Ed was sure he was going to lose his baby and hospital staff had suggested similarly – although he wasn’t prepared to contemplate saying good bye.

Even at Starship as she lay in an induced coma in the intensive care unit, doctors feared the worst suggesting she may never walk or talk again due to brain damage from a lack of oxygen.

A year on and on a sunny spring day, Davinia is almost back to her vibrant best at the family home – full of smiles and bouncing around as a seven-year-old should.

Ed and Tyler still don’t feel she is back to her best but to their relief, she is not far off. The walking, talking and running is not a problem. She has made a near full recovery.

But those early days in hospital were terrifying.

Davinia was in a coma for two days and when she regained consciousness she had to be kept cool and gradually be brought back to normal bodily temperature so as to avoid further damage to her brain.

Two weeks later she still couldn’t walk or talk but with a stream of whanau visiting, she perked up and began forcing some words out.

Learning to walk and talk at six-years-old was the last thing Ed and Tyler expected their girl to be confronted with. She couldn’t even hold a ball.

That the family was subsequently forced to remain in Auckland for 12 months so she could have immediate access to the best medical care possible is a stark reminder of how ill Davinia was. Monthly visits to respiratory specialists were required.

Ed and Tyler are hoping the worst is over and she’ll grow out of her asthma – just as Ed did – but they have steroids on hand now in case of another major attack. In fact, Ed has become something of an expert on things medical in relation to Asthma.

Of one thing they’re certain.

“If it was not for the Electricity Rescue Helicopter, we would not have Davinia today. They’re very good. They help you on the way and keep telling you it’s okay. They are really comforting and communicate with you the whole time about what is going on.

“We’re so thankful they were there for our baby. Before we used it we didn’t know about it but we support it whenever we can. And we want to encourage others in the North to do the same because you never know when you are going to need it. Davinia was one of the lucky ones.”

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