Air New Zealand Cargo has moved a lifeboat and engine from New Zealand to Greece as part of an effort to assist Greek rescue teams working to search for refugees and migrants crossing the Aegean Sea.
The rigid inflatable lifeboat and its engine, weighing some 240kg, was donated by the Bethells Beach Surf Life Saving patrol based in Henderson, New Zealand, and has been donated to Lifeguard Hellas who will use it for both patrols and emergency call-outs.
The lifeboat was first flown from Auckland to London on the airline’s Boeing 777-300 services.
On arrival it was transferred to dnata City at London Heathrow and handed over to Van Swieten Air Cargo, a specialist part of DHL Global Forwarding who was responsible for overseeing the final journey to the island of Lesbos.
Bethells Beach lifeguards team leader, Adrian Jenkins has organized a charity fundraising page with the aim of raising further funds for the New Zealand life guard team to be able to assist their counterparts in Greece and has already raised more than NZ$10,0000.
You can find out more by visiting: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/project-lifeguard-hellas