Westpac Lifesaver
Rescue Helicopter Service

The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service patrols the South East Queensland coast and carries out beach surveillance, shark warnings, preventative actions, missing person searches and rescues in the water and on the beach.

The service is also used for emergency response, searches and rescues, working in conjunction with emergency service organisations including the Queensland Police Service, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, and Queensland Fire & Emergency Services.

Key roles performed include:

• Sea-based search and rescue, delivered through coastal surveillance patrols
• Land search and rescue
• Fire service support
• Winch rescues and Australian Search and Rescue (AusSAR) tasks
• Disaster response deployment when required

As with each of the 13 Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter bases across Australia, the Queensland services out the Carrara base is a free community service; no one has ever been charged to be rescued.

The team is led by Chief Pilot Paul Gibson, who has more than 30 years of aviation experience and Chief Training Officer Andrew McNeilly. They lead a team of eight pilots, five full-time crew and 21 volunteers.

IOR provides with continuous support as a Premium Partner of WLRHS, fuelling our red and yellow heroes in the sky. IOR specialise in the delivery and supply of aviation fuel.

Importantly, IOR’s service over the years has helped ensure that aircraft are fuelled, and our pilots and crew are ready to respond to any emergency situations as quickly as possible. They have also helped significantly reduce our risk, by minimising the need to carry our own fuel.