Out of tragedy can emerge the finest human qualities

In March 2019 the Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons held its annual conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, a normally peaceful city that was in the process of rebuilding following the devastating earthquakes of 2010 and 2011. Then the day after the conference concluded a horrendous atrocity was committed in two nearby mosques which presented the hospital with 25 years of major gunshot injuries in just one hour. The remarkable response of the hospital and its staff, the victims and the broader community are outlined. Although the surgical response was impressive, lessons could still be learnt. These related to the consequences of the lack of warning as the ED was flooded with casualties, the effects of scoop and run when a disaster occurs near a hospital, limitations around record keeping, the rapid arrival of expert support into ED, pre-empting pressure points, designation of two key destinations and avoiding patient return to ED after imaging, the importance of flexibility and collaboration between services, the consequences on normal hospital activity in the weeks following the incident and the behaviour of victims. The response of PAPS to the event was no less impressive: consistent with its longstanding commitment to the care and welfare of children around the globe, our organisation, donated over $40,000 through the Christchurch Foundation towards scholarships for the children of the victims to support their higher education. Out of tragedy can emerge the finest human qualities.