Mike Bryce appeals for the return of medical kit stolen from his truck

For more than a decade, Christchurch volunteer emergency medical technician Mike Bryce has spent his spare time helping people in urgent need. Now, a theft has left him without equipment he says is essential to that work. Bryce discovered that a medical bag had been taken from his truck outside his Halswell home. The specialised kit was worth more than $10,000, according to the report, and he had assembled the equipment over several years at his own expense. He said his work and travels had brought him across accidents where he could offer assistance, prompting him to buy and carry his own gear. Being able to respond quickly, he explained, can matter when someone suffers a cardiac arrest or faces serious trauma. Bryce began volunteering in search and rescue about 25 years ago and also helped during the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. He said the medical work at that time made him realise he needed further training, leading him to become an ambulance officer. Alongside a senior management job at a construction company, Bryce now volunteers as an EMT several nights a week in North Canterbury. Keeping the kit in his truck meant it was ready when an emergency call came in, including calls in the early hours. Without it, he faces the expense and effort of building his supplies back up. The loss is not just financial, Bryce said: he is concerned about being able to help people when needed. He made a direct appeal for whoever took the bag to return it, saying he wanted the equipment back so he could continue serving the community. The report says he offered that it could be returned without questions or police involvement.