Grateful for a second chance

Rob Harrison was finishing up a game of golf in August 2025 when the mild chest pain he’d felt on and off came back. This time, he thought he should get checked out.

He went to Greymouth Hospital, where blood tests were taken.

“I was on my way home from Hospital when the phone rang telling me to turn around and come back,” Rob says.

Rob’s blood results had come back and they weren’t good.

The next day, Rob was on a NZ Flying Doctor service plane to Christchurch.

“The NZ Flying Doctor team was kind enough to find enough room for my wife Ailsa to travel with me, so she hurriedly packed a bag and we were both off,” Rob says.

Rob and Ailsa returned to the West Coast 20 years ago. They built their retirement home by the beach and quickly became part of the local community. They are involved in the local croquet and golf clubs and lead the Cobden Aromahana Sanctuary and Recreation Area group, an organisation involved with transforming the Cobden Lagoon.

“Retirement is busy,” Rob jokes.

Rob never thought those moments where he’d felt a bit ‘off’ were signs of heart problems. He certainly didn’t think his main artery was 90% blocked – but that’s what they discovered after arriving at Christchurch Hospital.

“The doctors were hopeful I might just need a stent but the angiogram showed just how blocked the artery was.”

Four days later Rob was in the operating theatre having a triple bypass operation.

“I received extremely good care at Christchurch Hospital and am so thankful to the NZ Flying Doctor Service for their wonderful support to get me there.”

While Rob had seen the NZ Flying Doctor service plane fly overhead, he never thought he’d need it.

“I was amazed at what a seamless service it was going from Greymouth Hospital, flying to Christchurch and then being transferred by ambulance to Christchurch Hospital. It just happened so quickly. And the fact they provided Ailsa a seat too was a kindness that was very much appreciated.”

Rob also had a birds-eye view of his community work as he flew out of Greymouth Airport. Flying over the Cobden Lagoon he saw local school children taking part in a planting day.

“I was meant to be running the planting day but had to call someone else in to help. It was great being able to look out of the plane window and see the kids down there.”

Today, Rob has fully recovered from his surgery and is back to his busy retirement schedule. He’s taken the time to write to thank those at Greymouth and Christchurch Hospitals and the NZ Flying Doctor Service for the part they played in his care.

“The care I received on the NZ Flying Doctor Service was excellent. I’m just so grateful that I’ve been given a second chance.”

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