Victim praises helicopters to the skies

Ian McDonald was airlifted to hospital after a quad bike accident. Picture / Jason Oxenham

It took just 15 minutes for Ian McDonald's sore shoulder to turn into pain so excruciating it felt like a knife cutting into his spine, and he is unsure what type of injuries he would have now if he had not been airlifted to hospital.

The 26-year-old fell off his quad bike after a charity ride at Kawakawa Bay last month, and despite being able to push the bike off himself and ride it to a nearby ambulance, his condition deteriorated quickly.

"Originally I just had a sore shoulder, but at the beginning of the ride they told us that any accident had to be reported so I was doing that," he said.

"Then I just remember that the pain was unbelievable, basically like someone was trying to cut me open with a sharp knife from my neck right down my spine."

Mr McDonald said he was unsure what would have happened if the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was unable to airlift him to Middlemore Hospital in time, and encouraged people to get behind the organisation during its appeal week starting today.

"It's a really worthwhile cause. You never know when stuff like that can get out of hand and you will need the service."

More than 5900 rescue missions were undertaken by local rescue helicopters around New Zealand last year, 1108 in the Auckland region.

The 2015 Westpac Chopper Appeal kicks off today with a nationwide street appeal.

The appeal runs throughout May and money raised will go back to the local trust in each of the 11 regions the helicopters operate in.

Rescue helicopters run 24 hours a day and are used when getting a patient to hospital quickly is crucial, when an accident is in a difficult location and to support search and rescue and fire operations.

Westpac is a large sponsor of the services, that are run by separate trusts around the country

Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust chief executive Greg Barrow said public donations kept the services running. "It's this generosity that allows us to carry out local rescue missions on a daily basis making a huge difference in many people's lives."

Coastguard makes MayDay appeal

May is the Coastguard's annual appeal month.

The marine rescue service makes 2800 rescues a year and is seeking donations to its MayDay appeal to help its 2300-plus volunteers.

Coastguard New Zealand chief executive Patrick Holmes said Sir Graham Henry was the initiative's ambassador again. Sir Graham urged Kiwis to get behind the cause, saying Coastguard was a "charity made up of great volunteers".

"Coastguard is a great organisation doing great things to keep Kiwis safe on the water," he said.

Donate at coastguard.co.nz and at chopperappeal.co.nz, or any Westpac branch.