The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service has saved many lives and helped numerous victims of accidents and other emergencies over the years.
Three Narrabri men who have needed the rescue chopper service have restated their heartfelt thanks ahead of the rescue chopper Baan Baa fund raiser on Sunday.
“The service is invaluable” said accident victim Daniel Tout.
“Who knows how many lives have been saved?
“I was riding a motorbike at Baan Baa in October, hit a stump on the side of the road, was thrown about 17 metres” said Daniel.
“I was knocked out. I can’t remember for an hour before or five or six hours after.”
His mates rode back to a vehicle about 30 km away, picked him up and took Daniel to Baan Baa.
“The Westpac helicopter landed at Baan Baa and took me to Tamworth Hospital with head injuries. “Apparently I was asking about every thirty seconds whose bike I was riding and what happened?
“Without the helicopter I would have been in much more trouble.
“It was a very quick response and reassured my family that I was quickly in good hands.”
Peter Whan fell down a cliff at Waa Gorge in April last year.
“I had a university mate who was visiting and I thought I would show him the sights and climb around to the top. We took a bit of a goat track and got half way up when a rock underneath me collapsed and I went down with it.
“I fell ten metres at least” said Peter.
“I landed in thick scrub on the edge of a rock shelf. Beyond that was more falling. I was unbelievable lucky.”
He suffered serious head injuries. “I had 35 stitches - scalped myself on the way down.”
Peter’s leg was broken, a compound fracture with bones through the skin, his foot at a 90 degree angle.
The VRA, ambulance and the Westpac rescue helicopter arrived at the same time.
“A Westpac chopper man roped me in a harness and got me to a point where I could be winched up.
“I had to wait for the chopper from Lismore because the Tamworth chopper didn’t have a winch capability.
Peter was flown to Tamworth for treatment.
“I can’t say enough about the chopper and the crew’s expertise,” he said.
“Without them I would have died - there would have been no way out of there.
“The Westpac crewman took control of the situation and organised everyone. The experience and training they have is invaluable.
“I wanted it to be a lesson to others as well” Peter adds. “If you go climbing have the right equipment and plan.”
Steve Page suffered serious injuries while riding a jet ski on a district cotton farm dam in November.
“I fell off and was run over by another one” Steve said.
“I had broken leg in two places, broken nose, broken teeth and a cracked bone in my back. I was knocked out, but my life jacket kept me afloat.
“The Westpac helicopter landed at the farm.
“I was taken to Tamworth and was in hospital for ten days. I am sort of fully healed now” he said.
The three say they can’t adequately express their thanks for the rescue service and urge community support for the Westpac chopper.