Life Flight

Alice was enjoying one of Paraparaumu’s many bushwalks when she accidentally fell. As she fell, she hit her knee, head and shoulder very hard on the way down.

“I noticed blood coming from my head, the sun going down and began feeling very cold; I realised this was extreme and I needed help. In pain, I called 111,” says Alice.

Life Flight’s Westpac Rescue Helicopter team knew the area well and realised Alice would need winching in the thick, forested area.

With light quickly fading, the Westpac Chopper was deployed immediately. Luckily our crew were able to talk to Alice on the phone to track her location.

I was so thankful when I heard them roar overhead.

With no safe place to land, winching was the only option. A Wellington Free Ambulance Flight Paramedic was sent down to secure a cold and tired Alice.

“I was scared so I closed my eyes on the way up. I felt a shoulder tap about halfway up and opened my eyes to see a beautiful sunset.”

Thankfully, your support enabled Alice to be rescued and flown to the hospital where she received surgery on her knee. After 11 days in Hospital, Alice was able to return home.

Thanks so much to the Life Flight team for finding me and saving my life. The reality is if I hadn’t phoned 111, I don’t think I would have made it through the night.

I’ve also since realised that this could happen to anyone. Everything was fine, I was fit and healthy, then one fall changed everything in a heartbeat.”