The mission of the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service (WLRHS) is simple: to be there when needed most. Crews are trained to navigate challenging conditions, perform complex rescues, deliver critical care, and reach people in places no other emergency service can. From beach and ocean rescues to bushland searches, medical support to disaster response, the service is often the first and fastest help available in a person’s time of need.

This year, the Ampol State of Origin arena helped strengthen that mission in a meaningful way.

Through Westpac’s Tries for Lives initiative, every try scored by the Westpac NSW Blues and Queensland Maroons men’s and women’s teams, became a direct contribution to helping keep the service mission‑ready. Across the 2026 Series, players crossed the line 37 times, turning sporting moments into lifesaving capability.

With $5,000 donated for every try scored, each four‑pointer translated into fuel, training, equipment, and operational support for the helicopter crews who respond when communities need them most.

By the end of the series, an incredible $185,000 had been raised - $100,000 for NSW services and $85,000 for Queensland services.

Since launching in 2023, Tries for Lives has generated $615,000 in support of the Westpac rescue helicopters, a life changing contribution that is best understood through the people whose lives depend on the helicopter and crews being rescue-ready.

When a rogue wave “taller than the boat” capsized Ergun Hasan’s vessel 22 kilometres off Tathra, he and his two friends were suddenly fighting for their lives. Thrown into rough seas with no time to react, Ergun grasped his emergency beacon, knowing it was their only chance. Exhausted and terrified, the trio clung to the overturned hull as the powerful swell rose around them.

Then, through the wind and spray, they heard it, the unmistakable thrum of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter. Relief washed over the group.

The helicopter crew held the aircraft steady in dangerous conditions, winching each person to safety with calm precision. For Ergun, that moment in the helicopter, finally out of the water and finally safe, is something he’ll never forget.

“Without them we wouldn’t be back here with our families,” he said. “Those guys put their lives in danger to save us.”

Shane Daw, Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service Southern NSW General Manager, said stories like Ergun’s are exactly why support of the service and initiatives like Tries for Lives matter.

“This donation will directly support our crews and operations, helping ensure we have the equipment, training and resources needed to respond quickly and safely when the community needs us.

“The service is there for people in some of the most challenging moments of their lives, and support like this helps us continue to provide that emergency response. “This State of Origin season, the triumphs on the field became more than sporting achievements. Every try scored had a lifesaving impact – support for successful search and rescues, a families reunited with their loved ones, precious lives saved.

A moment of celebration not just for fans, but for the WLRHS mission itself; a mission that protects families, supports communities, and ensures help is always within reach when people need it most.