Up and away: 19 years of rescue service for high-flyer Liam Brettkelly

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Weekend writer·Bay of Plenty Times·
9 mins to read
Up and away: 19 years of rescue service for high-flyer Liam Brettkelly
Search-and-rescue pilot Liam Brettkelly became a pilot in his late teens having spent his boyhood fascinated by the vision of flying 10,000 feet above the ground. Photo / Andrew Warner

"Sorry, people, I need to get my pyjamas on and get going."

Twenty minutes into our interview and search-and-rescue pilot Liam Brettkelly has received a phone call to attend a car accident near Mamaku.

The crew has 10 minutes to open the hangar doors and pull the twin-engined BK117

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