First rescue for new Squirrel

Rakiura Helicopters new Squirrel helicopter had its first outing as Stewart Island’s Search & Rescue air service yesterday morning (Thursday 26 January).

At 9.45am the Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand (RCCNZ) received a signal from a personal locator beacon (PLB) that had been set off in the Long Harry area on the North Coast of Stewart Island.

Within 10 minutes, Rakiura Helicopters owner/operator Zane Smith was airborne with local CNS Ambulance Officer Martin Peppers and full equipment including a stretcher and medical equipment.

The team landed at Long Harry within 25 minutes of the phone call from (RCCNZ) to find a tramper who couldn’t continue because of a wounded knee.

The tramper was transported to Halfmoon Bay where she was treated at the local medical centre.

Mr Smith says the tramper wasn’t seriously injured.

“When we evacuate people, very often it’s about patient comfort - people who can’t continue to walk because of an injury, but they’re not necessarily seriously injured. Because we are based on Stewart Island, we offer the quickest response time which means the most cost-effective in terms of taxpayer dollars. Our Squirrel helicopter is ideal for Search & Rescue which makes us very capable of doing this medi-vac work within daylight hours.

“We were pretty pleased to have this opportunity to put the systems and our own readiness, to the test.”

About Rakiura Helicopters

Rakiura Helicopters is the only company with a concession for operations out of Stewart Island’s Fern Gully, and Bluff’s Ocean Beach. The company also has a concession to operate in the Rakiura National Park on Stewart Island.

Its AS350 BA Squirrel helicopter offers heli-transportation for travelers, hunters and commercial operators as well as the island’s only medivac facilities.

Zane Smith, (37) is a 6th generation Stewart Islander who has spent his entire life on the island. He has extensive local knowledge and a deep understanding of the Maori & European history of the area. Zane is heavily involved with the local SAR (Search and Rescue) Group which meets monthly for training.