Surf Life Saving Queensland's Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service is one of the oldest community-based helicopter rescue services in the world. Since 1976, this service has been operating across South-East Queensland, patrolling the coastline from Rainbow Beach to Rainbow Bay. With a team of 44 paid and volunteer crew members, including Chief Pilot Paul Gibson, the service operates two helicopters, Lifesaver 45 and Lifesaver 46.

These helicopters are on constant patrol during weekends and peak periods, including school holidays, and are available for emergency response tasks 7 days a week. The service plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of Queenslanders, carrying out beach surveillance, shark warnings, preventative actions, missing person searches, and rescues both in the water and on the beach. In addition to this, they collaborate with emergency service organizations for search and rescue operations and provide disaster response deployment.

The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service is entirely free to the community, relying on donations to cover costs such as fuel and maintenance. With your support, this life-saving service can continue to keep Queenslanders safe