MARATHON MISSION CAPS BUSY WEEKEND FOR REGION’S RESCUERS

August 3, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A 17-year-old boy was airlifted with a serious concussion and other injuries after he was bucked off a beast and trampled at a bull riding school in Middlemount on Sunday.

The teenager, from Gargett, was riding a bull at the Middlemount Rodeo Arena about midday yesterday when he came off and the beast stood on his chest. Fortunately, he was wearing a protective vest, but he hit his head on the ground.

RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked by Queensland Health about 1.30pm and flew 372km to transfer the teenager and his parents from Middlemount Airfield to Mackay Base Hospital in the three-and-a-half hour mission.

An eight-hour mission to transfer a critically ill patient from Dysart to Townsville hospital late last night capped another busy weekend for RACQ CQ Rescue. The 64-year-old Dysart resident suffered a stroke and was flown 926km for neurological treatment in Townsville, arriving at 1.30am.

Since Friday, the Mackay-based rescue helicopter has flown five missions including to Dysart, Clermont, Middlemount, Collinsville and Clairview to retrieve ill and injured patients and transfer them to specialist medical care.

Yesterday, the helicopter flew 220km to transfer an injured woman from Clairview to Mackay hospital after she suffered a fall about 10.30am. She was believed to be visiting family when she sustained serious lacerations to her head and arm in the incident. She arrived at Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition about 11.40am.

RACQ CQ Rescue has already flown 346 missions this year and operating expenses are expected to reach $10.45 million. Each hour the helicopter is on a task equates to $10,500 an hour.

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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