Volunteer Crew
Matt Pacey
What made you join the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service?
As a kid coming up through the ranks of Surf Life Saving I kept seeing the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter come past on flights and thought that would be awesome. As a senior lifesaver I also worked along side the helicopter on numerous jobs before joining the Service.
What has been your most rewarding experience being involved in the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service?
Knowing that I am making a difference to keeping the public safe in the aquatic environment. Also taking time out to spend time with our sponsors at charity events to raise money for our Service.
What has been the toughest mission you have been on?
It was New Year’s Eve and my first rescue with the service and it was of 2 surfboard riders who got into difficulty in the massive swells we had round that time. They both ended up rocks around the point from the beach and the only way out was being winched out via Helicopter.
What is your favourite rescue story?
1998 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. The amazing stories of survival and rescue in those mammoth sea conditions really pushed all Rescue Helicopters and Crew to their limits.
If you could offer the beach going public one piece of advice, what would it be?
Don’t go swimming after dark and alone.
Brett Christensen
What made you join the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service?
Knowing that your actions and those of your team mates may have made the difference between someone going home to their family or not.
What has been the toughest mission you have been on?
Retrieving two deceased persons from a storm water drain at Lurline Bay.
What is your favourite rescue story?
Winching a guy from the mountains in Katoomba after he had fallen and was without water for two days. We found him on last light and took him to Katoomba hospital. I don’t think he would have survived another night.
With such a great view from the sky, what has been the most unusual thing that you have seen when on a surveillance flight?
Around Christmas time - Santa Claus hanging 10 at Dee Why beach.
Have you ever been contacted by someone you’ve rescued after you got them back to safety? If so, what did they have to say?
We got a call from the police once when a patient asked them to “tell the yellow and red helicopter I said thanks”!
If you could offer the beach going public one piece of advice, what would it be?
No flags = No swim
