Life Flight

What is your job with Life Flight?
My job is Crewman on the Air Ambulance, working alongside the medical teams and pilots to transfer patients between hospitals around New Zealand.

How long have you worked for Life Flight?
Since October 2016

What work did you do before coming to Life Flight?
I have worked as an Aircraft Technician, Industrial Abseiler, Carpenter, Film Set Constructor, Agricultural Researcher, Commercial Fisherman and Gold Miner.

What attracted you to this job?
Aviation has always inspired me, from personal flying to working as a technician building aircraft. So I’ve known for a long time of the work Life Flight does. Life Flight has always captured my interest and inspired me so it was great to join the team in 2016. My job is a perfect blend of a great team environment, logistics and aviation.

What is the best part of the job?
Seeing patients and their relatives relax a little when the Flight Team are there for them. It feels great to be part of that. And sunrises at 25,000 feet are pretty good, too!

What’s the hardest part?
Saying goodbye at the end of a mission to patients and families who are facing difficult times.

Is there one mission that was particularly memorable for you?
One mission I remember well was rushing a patient to Auckland Hospital from Wellington, to have a blood clot removed from their brain. We went directly to the operating theatre, where the clot was removed, then we flew them back to Wellington, and they were woken in the Intensive Care Unit, fully recovering surrounded by their family. All in a night’s work.

What do you do now when you’re not at work?
Outside of work I’m out and about. I fly my hang glider as much as the Welly weather will allow. I also love to dive, fish, sail, surf and ski.

What is something that supporters might be surprised to find out about you?
Something most people might not know is that I re-pack emergency parachutes for fellow hang glider pilots, and I’m a keen baker!

What one word would best describe you?
Enthusiastic!

The service that Life Flight provides is a massive team effort, so a huge and warm thank you to all the Life Flight supporters. You’re the backbone of the team!