Nelson becomes home to new critical care air ambulance
A new critical care flying ambulance has been blessed and welcomed to Nelson.
Kahurangi, the newest edition to the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service, was welcomed to the fleet on Thursday evening with a blessing from Archdeacon Emeritus Harvey Ruru at its Nelson base.
The $3 million Beechcraft Super King Air B200 air ambulance is the third to join the Flying Doctor Service. The other two are based in Christchurch.
The name Kahurangi, or precious, was chosen by competition winner Naomi Johnson after the blue of the skies in the Nelson and Marlborough regions and the cargo it will carry, as well as the regions’ connection to the national park.
Nelson was selected as the location for the aircraft because the service received a high proportion of its call-outs from there.
In 2023, the air ambulances were called to 1276 incidents across Aotearoa, with more than 50% of the missions being called in from Nelson.
Dr David Bowie, the chair of the board of trustees for the service, said the service was a flying intensive care unit, with staff who had unique skills. That was important for areas such as Nelson where patients need to travel to larger hospitals for treatment, and the need was only increasing.
“When time is of the essence and distance is an issue, the New Zealand Flying Doctor Service is the only option for many patients,” Bowie said.
Plane crash survivor Reverend Mark Sullivan was at the blessing.
His life was saved by the service and its sister service ROA Mining Rescue Helicopter after a light plane crash in a remote bush area near Murchison in 2022.
He was flown from Nelson to Christchurch Hospital for surgery, and 18 months later he had recovered, living with eight pieces of titanuim in his face and jaw, with only a small scar on his chin.
“At the time I didn’t appreciate how close I came to not surviving,” Sullivan said.
“No other organisation has had such a profound impact in my life and I feel that our part of the world is well served with such a professional and dedicated band of men and women.
“The air rescue and NZ Flying Doctor teams saved my life, and I want to say a massive thanks.”