LOCO WORKER CRUSHED BETWEEN TWO LOADED CANE WAGONS

July 4, 2021

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOCO WORKER CRUSHED BETWEEN TWO LOADED CANE WAGONS

RACQ CQ Rescue has airlifted a critically injured man to hospital after he was crushed between two loaded cane train wagons near Carmila yesterday.

The Mackay man was working on a cane train with a locomotive driver when the incident occurred at a railway siding on Palms Road, near West Hill Creek, about 3pm.

 The loco driver called 000 when his co-worker’s torso was crushed between the two unlinked wagons loaded with cane.

RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked by Queensland Health about 3.30pm and flew direct to the scene about 80km south of Mackay, landing on Palm Road, adjacent to the cane siding and loaded train.

The patient suffered serious crush injuries to his upper left torso including broken ribs and lung complications and was administered pain relief by Queensland Ambulance officers first on scene. He was then loaded into the rescue helicopter, which had a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board, within 20 minutes of arrival. The helicopter flew back to Mackay at a very low level due to his significant internal injuries arriving about 5pm. The patient was in a critical but stable condition.

The incident again reiterated the importance of the lifesaving aeromedical service within the region.

 “If he had to be transported by road it would have taken about an hour for him to get to hospital as opposed to the 20-minute flight,” RACQ CQ Rescue rescue crewman Arno Schoonwinkel said.

[ENDS]

A cane train worker was airlifted to hospital by RACQ CQ Rescue after being crushed between two loaded wagons near Carmila yesterday.

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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