Stories - Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter | Philips Search and Rescue Trust

Do you have a story to share?

Patients and donors are at the heart of everything we do. Your stories are a powerful testament to human strength, courage, vulnerability, and hope.

Your stories inspire others and bring awareness to the lifesaving work undertaken by the highly skilled personnel onboard the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter, who are saving lives every day.

If you have experienced our service or held a fundraising event or activity for your rescue helicopter, you have a story to tell, and we’d love for you to share it. Click here to share your story.

Apr 5, 2019

MORE BIRTHDAYS TO CELEBRATE THANKS TO YOUR GENEROSITY

An induced coma is no way to spend your 13th birthday, but that’s exactly what happened for Koben Hanks in April of 2019.

Oct 30, 2018

Stephen’s broken hip stranded him. You came to his rescue.

While Stephen and his wife were biking the Ohakune Old Coach Road Bike Train Stephen suddenly hit a patch of mud and tumbled from his bike, breaking his left hip.

Oct 30, 2018

Baby Charlotte could have died without you

Charlotte Rogers had a very early start to life, arriving at 30 weeks, weighing 2lb 4oz.

st Nick McBride Tramping Club Rescue Helicopter Winch 640x245

Apr 26, 2016

Tramping trip ends with search and rescue

Sunday morning, 26 April 2015, started quietly for pilot Lance Burns and crew, but it soon stepped up a notch when they had a call asking for assistance to search for a beacon that had…

Nov 2, 2015

Friend avoids kidney damage

YOUR DONATION ENABLED A SPEEDY FLIGHT OUT OF THE TARARUA RANGES FOR HEATHER GRADY, PREVENTING LONG-TERM ORGAN DAMAGE.

Nov 2, 2015

A vicious bee attack

A VICIOUS BEE ATTACK REQUIRES A SWIFT RESPONSEWhen Larry Cummings reacted to a vicious bee attack on his rural property outside Taihape, his emergency received a swift response from the Palmerston North Rescue Helicopter.