Calming influence from Northern Rescue Helicopter Paramedics
Emma Cameron has a whole new appreciation for the care people receive aboard Northern Rescue Helicopter flights.
A fall on January 5, 2026, resulted in multiple cuts to Emma’s body from landing on oyster shells, along with a brain injury.
She was winched to the safety of a Northern Rescue Helicopter near Whangaroa and flown to Whangārei Base Hospital.
“I am so grateful to the team, it is very evident the team are passionate about what they do,” says Emma
“They showed me so much care and empathy. I have a newfound respect for the team with their skills, knowledge, bravery and their ability to be the source of calmness through it all.
“I recall the Northern Rescue Helicopter coming in. It was my first flight in a helicopter. I recall going up in the helicopter but the trip from my incident to hospital was a bit of a blur,” says Emma.
“Honestly, if someone told me that an emergency was going to happen to me, I would not have believed them.
“The paramedics, Andrew and Joy, were so calming and made me feel safe the whole way. It was really nice. I am so grateful at how caring everyone was up there for me.
“We were so remote. There was no reception, nor were there any people nearby to help. It was a very worrying situation. The Coastguard had made an attempt to get to us but they couldn’t get their boat in close enough which added to our worry.
“The water was rising so fast and by the time the Northern Rescue Helicopter showed up we were stranded on the ledge with no way out. I was so relieved to see the helicopter, I knew I would be okay once Joy made it down to me.
“I have a friend who has been flown by a Northern Rescue Helicopter crew and she feels the same as me – totally gratitude.
“My husband (Rob) and I have both started donating and we want to give whatever help we can to help out the service by volunteering, fundraising and just spreading the word to what an amazing service and what great people are involved,” explains Emma.
While Emma’s recovery has been slow due to the head injury, she is gradually returning to work at Bunnings Mangawhai.
“The medical teams think my fall was caused from blacking out – possibly from exhaustion after a three-hour hike in one of the hottest days of summer. One of the oyster shells left a decent cut in my head.”
Emma believes the incident was most traumatic for her children – Mason, 12, and Piper, 9.
“We were in a really remote spot and after my incident they were taken back to a hut and did not know what was going on. They freaked out when they saw the Northern Rescue Helicopter because they knew their Mum was being taken away.”
Thankfully, it has all worked out thanks to the efforts of everyone who responded to Emma’s incident, including bystanders and Coastguard.
