Ian Percy is adamant the Northland Rescue Helicopter saved his life twice on a single flight from Whangārei to Auckland Hospital where he underwent extensive open-heart surgery.
The fact Ian was even alive to make that flight, surprised Doctors as he had suffered a heart attack two weeks prior and five of his arteries were blocked.
Even with an operation his chances of survival were not great.
But it was the beautiful shimmering water of Whangārei Harbour – a memory clearly locked in Ian’s mind that spurred a stubborn Omanaia man to fight for his life, live on and make the most of his remaining years.
Not that his path has been easy in the year since that 2024 incident.
In fact, he is unable to work which is frustrating but he refuses to get down.
And that goes back a magical moment on board the Northland Rescue Helicopter.
While not sure if it was a calling from God, Ian distinctly remembers when he was struck by the beauty of the view of the Whangārei Harbour as a Northland Rescue Helicopter transported him to Auckland Hospital. He says it was beyond anything he had ever seen and he decided in that moment that he would fight to live and cherish his remaining days.
But he still had a mighty battle to face in the days, weeks and months post-operation, a harrowing time as his body struggled to bounce back from the exhaustion and trauma.
“In the years leading up to the flight I had been getting heartburn and acid reflux quite badly,” explains Ian.
“On the eve of February 5, 2022, I felt like I had a severe case of that. I found out two weeks later that I was having a heart attack outside my mate’s place in Point Chevalier in Auckland. I had shortness of breath and tiredness as well.”
A fortnight later, Ian was hosting guests at his Northland home to celebrate his birthday and became unwell.
He went to bed at 10pm but was assessed by his daughter-in-law who was studying to be a doctor. After an assessment at Kawakawa Hospital, Ian was taken by ambulance to Whangārei Hospital where an angiogram revealed he had five blocked arteries.
“The doctor told me he was astonished I was still alive and I was in the chopper within an hour with a low chance of survival. It was a life-saving flight. The five arteries were replaced but the operation did not go well because I was bleeding so much. Post-operation I got pneumonia and that almost did me in. It was savage.
“It felt like I was hit by a bus and the truck following it, then a train. I had a raging fever, had a tube down my throat, was in extreme pain, couldn’t walk and was delirious.”
That’s when Ian’s life was saved for a second time – this time by a nurse who backed his burning body with ice to cool him down. She tweaked his medication and the following day Ian was back on track.
“At once point I overheard a doctor say my chances of survival were unknown and I decided to show him otherwise. I was quite emotional known my chances of pulling through were limited.
“I have been to beautiful places all over the world but the shimmering water of the Whangārei Harbour was like what you expect heaven to look like and I have held on to that vision through my recovery. I have no idea how I found the strength to pull through but I did and I am loving life and am so thankful for the Northland Rescue Helicopter crew and all of the medical people at Kawakawa, Whangārei and Auckland Hospitals for helping me.”
Three years on, Ian says he will do anything to support the Northland Rescue Helicopters because the crew that saved his life that day.
“If you appreciate life, like being on this planet and having fresh air then support the Northland Rescue Helicopters. They also saved my brother’s life 12 years ago when he ruptured his femoral artery in a motorcycle accident. I probably have 10-15 years of life left, so I get up every morning and give it 100%,” says Ian.
