Welcome

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter provides search and rescue services to the people of the Greater Sydney Region.

Since the Service began in Sydney in 1973, it has carried out more than 21,000 missions ranging from urgent patient transfers to dangerous search and rescue missions.

The Greater Sydney Region Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter is based at La Perouse in the Botany Bay National Park and has trained professional pilots and crew on call seven days a week, ready to respond to any search or rescue mission.

Situated less than 200 metres from the coast, the Helicopter has extremely quick access to the coastal waters and cliffs providing the most responsive service to the community of Greater Sydney. The Service can reach either the Royal National Park or Sydney Harbour within 6 minutes.

Despite delivering this vital community service, the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter is a not-for-profit organisation. It is a free Service with the sole mission to save lives.

The Service depends entirely on the generous support of sponsors and the community to stay flying.

Please support your community helicopter …watching over you.

News & Events

Rock Fishing Tips

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter responds to many rock fishing incidents, and unfortunately rock fishing related fatalities, along the NSW coastline.

Chief Crewman Tony Wood has issued these very helpful tips to ensure your safety while rock fishing.

Do's

  • Do read your local paper for advice on weather, tide times and what the swell is likely to be doing
  • Do tell someone where you are going and most importantly, when you will be back
  • Do wear crampons on your feet; all rock ledges are slippery
  • Do note the location of any ‘angel rings’ put up by the National Park Rangers
  • Do wear some form of flotation device

Don'ts

  • Do not fish on your own
  • Do not fish in areas which are inaccessible to potential rescuers
  • Do not attempt to swim back to the rocks if you are swept into the water, swim out to sea, rescue is easier
  • Do not fish where there is no network coverage for mobile telephones
  • Do not take children with you on the rock ledges
SMH Online

SMH Online

‘The chopper that saves lives’. Check out a story about the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter on SMH Online.