The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Service provided critical care to 1,866 patients in the lower South Island in the year ending June 30 - a 16 percent increase on the previous year.

It provides a 24/7 helicopter service for critical medical care and search and rescue in the South Island’s southern regions, operating from bases in Dunedin and Queenstown.

Otago Regional Council (ORC) provides $350,000 per year towards the service, which is co-funded between community support and the government.

“ORC is delighted to support this critical service and is grateful to the teams of pilots and paramedics who are on call 24/7, 365 days of the year to respond to patients across the region,” ORC chair Gretchen Robertson said.

The 2023 Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Service annual report to the ORC showed the community’s significant and growing reliance on it, she said. 

“We all rely on the world-class service that is delivered in our region, and we thank the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust for its work supporting that service.”

Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Service trustee Stephen Woodhead said the service has an annual funding target of $800,000 per year plus $400,000 per year contributed by Lakes District Air Rescue Trust.

“We are hugely grateful for the generous donations and sponsorship from organisations, community groups, and individuals across the region,” he said. 

“This year, we have welcomed Landpower Group Ltd, which owns the CLAAS Harvest Centre network, as our cornerstone Platinum Sponsor, joining others in our family of sponsors.”

“That support is vital in enabling us to support the teams to bring vital life-saving care to patients every day and night of the year,” he said.

Wānaka & Districts Lions Club donated $10,000 to the Otago Southland Helicopter Trust earlier this year.

Read more: Club raises $10k for rescue helicopter

Learn more about the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Service here.

PHOTO: Supplied