ILL SAILOR WINCHED FROM BULK CARRIER AT HAY POINT
January 16, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RACQ CQ Rescue has winched a seriously ill Filipino sailor off a bulk carrier at Hay Point late yesterday and airlifted him to hospital.
The 54-year-old crewman from the MV Brilliant Jupiter was suffering cardiac issues when the 245-metre long container ship anchored at Hay Point about 40km south of Mackay.
RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked about 3.30pm yesterday and flew direct from Mackay Airport to the moored vessel in 12 minutes with a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board.
The aircraft orbited the vessel and made contact with the ship’s crew via marine radio before winching down the rescue crewman, followed by the paramedic to the carrier’s small helideck as the helicopter about 10 metres overhead.
The patient was assessed and secured into an ARV (Air Rescue Vest) and was then winched up in the helicopter with the paramedic within 15 minutes of the rescue crew’s arrival on scene. The rescue crewman followed.
The sailor was flown to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition arriving just after 4pm.
RACQ CQ Rescue completed 689 tasks in 2019 making it the busiest year on record in the community-funded rescue helicopter’s 24 years of service to Central and North Queensland.
[ENDS]
CAPTION: A seriously ill 54-year-old Filipino crewman was winched off a 245-metre bulk carrier at Hay Point yesterday by RACQ CQ Rescue.
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