What's Happening

South Island tourism operator Real Journeys has purchased four automated external defibrillators for company vessels operating in remote parts of Fiordland.

The portable defibrillators will be kept on board the Doubtful Sound vessels Patea Explorer and Fiordland Navigator, and on the Milford Sound overnight cruise vessels Milford Mariner and Milford Wanderer. All overnight vessel crew and company first aiders will be trained in their use.

Real Journeys Milford Sound/Doubtful Sound Area Manager Paul Norris said the ZOL AED-plus defibrillators were designed so that even novices could effectively deliver defibrillation and CPR. Having an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) can increase the chances of survival by up to 40% when dealing with a sudden cardiac arrest.

"It’s quite a big investment, but it’s an investment in the well-being of our passengers and staff. You can’t put a dollar value on that," Mr Norris said.

The Milford Sound Development Authority (MDA) currently has a defibrillator available in the main terminal building in Milford Sound. However Real Journeys has made a commitment to have a defibrillator available on vessels used for overnight and multi-day cruises due to the remote areas in which these vessels operate.

"If someone needs a defibrillator, you don’t have much time to get one to them," Mr Norris said. "Having a defibrillator on board could be literally the difference between life and death."

Doubtful Sound is even more remote from assistance, with the closest defibrillator currently located over Wilmot Pass at the Manapouri Underground Power Station.

For further comment, please contact:
Paul Norris, Real Journeys Milford Sound/Doubtful Sound Area Manager
Phone: 03 249 8643 / 021 222 9057
Email: pnorris@realjourneys.co.nz

For photos, please contact:
Diana McCurdy, Real Journeys Marketing Communications Manager
Tel: 03 442 4830
Email: dmccurdy@realjourneys.co.nz