MEDIA RELEASE

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PATIENT AND WAIKATO WESTPAC RESCUE HELICOPTER CREW RE-UNITE NATIONAL FIELDAYS®, MYSTERY CREEK

Alan Hurford had been a Friend of the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter for years, but not once did he think he would need it. Not until just over a year ago, when a motorcycle accident left him with a leg totally degloved of skin up to his abdomen.

While riding his motorcycle under Taupiri Mountain, Alan hit a pedestrian island while passing a vehicle and came off his bike. He impacted with the side of a milk tanker’s wheels. Alan was caught in the back wheel of the tanker and was dragged until the tanker was able to stop.

The Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to the scene of Alan’s accident with an ED doctor on-board. This was a time-critical accident as there was a serious risk that he could lose his leg. Alan also sustained other serious injuries due to the horrific nature of this accident.

Alan spent 3 months in hospital and under went 20 operations to re-construct his leg and wrist. A year on and Alan is mobile, back at work and on the road to recovery.

He doesn’t remember his flight in the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter, but Wednesday the crew had the pleasure of flying a recovered Alan into the 2016 National Fieldays® at Mystery Creek.

An extremely grateful Alan spent time with the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew and is thankful that the rescue helicopter was there for him that night.

In 2015, the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter flew 504 potentially life-saving missions. The annual cost to have this service available and dedicated to our region is $3.3 million per year, with more than half of this funded through our community.

To donate to the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter or your local PSRT rescue helicopter visit rescue.org.nz or call the fundraising team on 0800 11 10 10

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 Waikato King Country’s principal sponsor, Westpac.

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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