Westpac rescue chopper’s 6000th mission was Tom Hulse’s first

Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter conducted a very important mission this afternoon – its 6000th. And it happened to coincide with new rescue helicopter pilot Tom Hulse’s first mission. 

The call to duty came just after lunch today when the rescue helicopter was tasked to airlift a male cardiac patient from Lismore Base Hospital to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

Tom, who has just commenced employment with Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, accompanied chief pilot Lynton Beggs as an observer on the mission. He joins Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter with a decade of helicopter flying under his belt.

“I enjoyed my previous position but I wanted to become part of something more meaningful,” Tom said.

“For quite a while now I had been thinking about making the move into emergency services, an area where you can actually help make a difference in people’s lives.

“When I recently became aware there was an opening for a pilot at the rescue helicopter in Lismore, I grabbed it with both hands.”
 
Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter general manager Kris Beavis said the 6000th mission followed 27 years as the region’s only aero-medical rescue service.

“Today is a day to reflect on the achievements of a local service that began in 1982 as a beach patrol service in Ballina, to become an integral part of local emergency services across northern NSW,” Mr Beavis said.

“It’s humbling to think of the large number of people alive today because they had access to a free 24/7 aero-medical service ready to fly them wherever they needed to go for life-saving treatment after an accident or injury.

“Today’s mission is a good example of the way in which Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter provides an essential service.”

Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter is looking forward to continuing its tradition of ensuring residents and visitors from Tweed Heads to Nambucca Heads, and wWest to the New England Ranges, have access to a free, first-class aero-medical rescue helicopter that is there for them 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

(Crew on mission included chief pilot Lynton Beggs, pilot Tom Hulse, crewman Steve Von Bratt, Dr Richard Mahoney and paramedic Kim Hanlon). 

PICTURE: Tom Hulse (second from left) helps load a cardiac patient into the rescue helicopter just prior to take-off.

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