Joshua and Rachel both work in health care. Rachel is a Nurse and Joshua is a Flight Paramedic. They could have met by bumping into each other at the hospital, but that is not how this story went. Both of them separately joined the Greymouth Land Search and Rescue group during a recruitment drive at the start of 2023. The noticed each other early on, but it was spending time together at national courses which gave them the opportunity to talk and get to know each other. Then, in the winter of 2023, Joshua injured his back and ended up admitted to Rachel's hospital. Once the drugs wore off, he remembered that she worked there and messaged her to drop on by his room for a coffee. There he learned all about her upcoming ultra marathon in Christchurch.
Joshua was soon discharged from hospital and found himself with some free time while he recovered from his back injury. The night before her big race he messaged and asked if she needed any help on her support crew. She very excitedly replied that she would love some help. So he organised accommodation and drove over to Christchurch that night to help out. The next morning he headed out to the race area to find out what was needed and was immediately introduced to pretty much Rachel's entire family including sister and parents (which she didn't tell him were all going to be there beforehand!). The race started soon after and Joshua got to spend the next 12 hours getting to know Rachel's family while she raced.
That was their first date, and ever since they have gone from strength to strength and are now excited about getting to plan the rest of their life together.