BUSY DAY FOR RESCUERS WITH THREE BACK-TO-BACK MISSIONS
September 12, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A tourist punched in a bar fight, an injured horseman and an ill Filipino sailor were all airlifted to hospital by RACQ CQ Rescue in medical emergencies across the region on Saturday.
The three back-to-back missions, which were requested by Queensland Health, started at 4.30pm when a 41-year-old man fell from a horse on a cattle property near Nebo, about 100km south-west of Mackay. He was believed to have been working in yards breaking in a horse when he fell, suffering suspected spinal injuries. The Mackay-based rescue helicopter landed in a clearing on the property to treat and transfer the patient and he was flown to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition, arriving about 6.30pm.
On return to base at Mackay Airport, RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked again about 7.30pm to airlift a 49-year-old Filipino crewman on board the bulk carrier Zephyrus who required medical evacuation to hospital.
With a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board, the helicopter flew direct to the 228-metre long vessel which was anchored at Hay Point and an RACQ CQ Rescue rescue crewman was winched onto the deck of the carrier. The helicopter was unable to land on the ship’s deck due to weight restrictions.
The patient was able to walk to the crewman and be secured into an ARV (Air Rescue Vest). He was then winched up into the helicopter to be flown to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition, arriving about 8.30pm.
Just an hour after they returned to base at 10.50pm, the rescue helicopter crew were tasked again to fly to the Whitsundays to airlift a 48-year-old Tasmanian tourist injured in a bar fight. The man had allegedly been drinking in a bar and was hit by another patron, falling and breaking his ankle. He was flown to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition arriving after midnight.
RACQ CQ Rescue has already completed 408 missions this year, with every hour the helicopter is in the air on task costing the community-funded service about $10,500.
The Bell 412 rescue helicopter and crew services rural and remote communities across Central and North Queensland and is often the difference between life and death for hundreds of patients each year.
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Please credit any released photos and video footage to RACQ CQ Rescue.
Please note: Full title of rescue service is RACQ CQ Rescue.
For further information please contact:
Naomi Noy
RACQ CQ Rescue
Ph: 0417 578 182