A flying thank-you visit to St Mary's School in Milton by the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter yesterday ended abruptly when the chopper crew was told it was needed in an emergency.
The school had raised $1005 for the rescue helicopter appeal and, in recognition, was offered chopper rides for two pupils. Wyatt Mallan (5) and Ryan Weatherall (10) were chosen and flew from the trust's base at Taieri Aerodrome to the school yesterday.
Rescue Helicopter Trust paramedic and crewman Doug Flett, of Dunedin, thanking the school for the fundraising, said the trust flew more than 450 missions last year from its Dunedin base alone.
The visit was cut short when the helicopter was called to fly a 71-year-old Milton woman to Dunedin Hospital.
Warepa School, near Balclutha, was the runner-up for the Otago region, receiving a shirt signed by All Black captain Ritchie McCaw. The overall national winner was Pukeokahu School, 30km east of Taihape, which raised $2302.
The challenge was a nationwide school competition to raise funds for rescue helicopters in New Zealand as part of the annual Westpac Chopper Appeal.
