WORKER SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN CRUSHED BY TRUCK AT MINE

October 30, 2021

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A mine worker was airlifted by RACQ CQ Rescue with serious injuries today after being crushed in a truck at a wash plant at Coppabella.

The miner, believed to be a fitter, suffered broken ribs and serious abdominal and lung injuries when crushed between the dual tyres and frame of the 15-metre long haul truck when it moved without warning this morning.

RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked at 8.45am to fly direct to the mine site on the Peak Downs Highway, about 140km south-west of Mackay, and landed in a gravel clearing adjacent to the mine wash plant and accident scene with a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board.

The injured miner had been freed by workers and was being tended to by ambulance officers and mine paramedics until the flying trauma team’s arrival about 10am.

The miner was stabilized and administered pain relief before being loaded into the helicopter and flown to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition.

RACQ CQ Rescue then returned to base at Mackay Airport about 12.30pm only to be tasked immediately again by Queensland Health to transfer an unwell hospital patient from Dysart to Mackay.

Yesterday, the Mackay-based rescue helicopter crew completed three hospital transfers from Bowen, Clermont and Moranbah to Mackay after airlifting a critically ill patient to Townsville in a six-hour marathon mission overnight.

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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