Supporting our local heroes

The reassuring beat of the rescue helicopter’s blades through the dense low cloud was a welcome sound.

Stranded atop steep terrain between Canvastown and Havelock, a forestry contractor stung by a wasp was at risk of anaphylactic shock.

Despite being given antihistamine to help counter the rare allergic reaction, the man’s face continued to swell.

As he rushed to the scene, Edridge Contracting Ltd manager John Leslie says the arrival of the distinctive red and white helicopter and its skilled crew was a huge relief.

On site for forestry company OneFortyOne, John witnessed the amazing work of the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust crew first-hand.

If OneFortyOne needed any confirmation they had made the perfect choice supporting the Trust, this was it.

”I had adrenaline and know how to administer it but I could hear the helicopter coming and knew it would be better if they gave him the shot.

“He was quite swollen in the face, but he was able to talk and the helicopter was close.

“They provide an invaluable service and it’s a great choice, especially when we work so remotely.

“You wouldn’t get an ambulance to the places we work; you’d need a four-wheel drive. It would have taken too long,” John says.

For the 45 employees and 350 contractors within the OneFortyOne team, the rescue helicopter is a cause close to their hearts.

To show their support and appreciation, OneFortyOne have announced they’ve become a Platinum and Corporate Friend of the Trust.

OneFortyOne’s Brent Guild says the Trust has proved to be overwhelmingly important to the whole team, all of whom live and work across the Top of the South.

“The main driver for us has been our team who love it here; both for work and leisure. The remoteness and isolation of some of our sites means the safety of our employees is a top priority, in a worst-case situation it’s great to know the helicopter can and will be there.

“If we can make a difference to even just one person’s life, that’s enough.”

OneFortyOne is a long-term investor in the Top of the South, with 80,000 hectares of forestry and Kaituna Mill in Marlborough, making them a large and favoured local employer too.

When the business was looking at ways to give back to the community, it was their employees they turned to for guidance. The survey results were clear, with the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust an obvious favourite.

With so many people across the business making the most of the great outdoors in their free time, the Trust was a great fit for the company, explains Brent.

“Our employees and contractors, the type of people they are, something all of them enjoy is the outdoors and can appreciate what the Trust do on a personal level.

“Of course, this does have a risk to it.”

The health and safety of its team are vitally important to the business, both while at work and play. For the contractor who was flown to Wairau Hospital last month, the safety systems in place meant he was in good hands.

“He was on his own when it happened,” John says. “Luckily he had cell phone reception but we have a great system in place with check-in times.

“He’s had stings before but this was the first time he had a reaction like this and we knew we had to call for help.”

The Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter responds to over 500 missions throughout the Nelson, Tasman, Marlborough and Buller regions every year.

The average cost of saving a life per mission is $3500 and with the helicopter averaging 10 missions a week, every dollar counts.

As a $15,000 sponsor, OneFortyOne will have its logo on one of the helicopters. While grateful for the opportunity, Brent says he hopes that no one has cause to see it.

“If you’re seeing a logo, it means you need help and we’d rather that wasn’t the case but of course, you couldn’t be in better hands.”

Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter general manager Paula Muddle says the sponsorship from OneFortyOne is a wonderful example of the kind of support the Trust so desperately needs.

“We all come together as a community in the Top of the South. Despite everything we’re going through people like OneFortyOne still go out of their way to help.

“We have enjoyed a longer-term relationship with them historically and having them acknowledge all we do means a lot.

“There have been so many hurdles, yet we all pull through together.”