The world rescue organisation will host the RCR world championships in Croatia this September, where teams from across the globe will be challenged to rescue passengers or "patients" from damaged vehicles in simulated road crash incidents.
The East Otago team is a group of six volunteer firefighters and medics from six brigades, combining both career and volunteer emergency services personnel.
The group have been competing together since 2022 and won the Otago Southland Road Crash Rescue challenge two years in a row, before their big win last year at the United Fire Brigades Association New Zealand national RCR challenge.
That qualified the men to represent New Zealand at the world championships.
Each team consists of six members, including a designated team leader and a medic, who have to race against the clock to extricate and treat patients in simulated road crashes while being scored on their techniques.
East Otago team leader Hamish Hesselin, of the Palmerston Fire Brigade, said the men were excited to compete internationally.
"We’re pumped for the experience, we’re getting in plenty of practice to do it — it’s going to be awesome."
Critical decision making and team work would be part of their preparation for the world championships, which included up to four to five hours’ training a week, he said.
Waikouaiti Fire Brigade member Ryan Griffiths said it was a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to travel to the event.
Waitati Fire Brigade volunteer firefighter Jody Williams and Port Chalmers volunteer firefighter Will Hall will also represent New Zealand for the first time as medics in the World Trauma Challenge at the championships.
Mr Williams said he had personally been to three motor vehicle accidents in the last two weeks and the team were "currently the best in New Zealand at hauling you out of a car if you have a major accident".
The team had set up a Givealittle page to help raise the $60,000-$70,000 they "desperately" needed to get to Croatia for the competition and were grateful for donations they had already received, he said.
Fulltime jobs and families, plus working as volunteers with Fire and Emergency New Zealand and Hato Hone St John had meant most of the team had never travelled that far afield or had the funds to do so.
The uniforms and electronic equipment they required for the global competition were "extremely expensive", and they were relying on community support, Mr Williams said.
To donate: givealittle.co.nz/cause/help-the-team-compete-at-the-world-rescue
