SHARK ATTACK, CAR CRASH AND ANNIVERSARY MARK BUSY WEEKEND
October 18, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SHARK ATTACK, CAR CRASH AND ANNIVERSARY MARK BUSY WEEKEND
A shark attack, a serious cardiac condition, a motor vehicle accident and a trek to honour colleagues killed in a helicopter crash 18 years ago have culminated in a very busy weekend for RACQ CQ Rescue.
Last night, a teenager was flown to Mackay Base Hospital with neck and possible spinal injuries after a single vehicle accident near Mt Coolon, about 280km west of Mackay.
The car rolled and came to rest in a cement floodway on the Bowen Developmental Road just after 8pm.
RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked by Queensland Health and landed beside the road adjacent to the accident scene about 9pm. The patient was taken to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition arriving about 10pm. It was the 552nd task completed by the partly community-funded rescue service this year.
On Friday night, a 34-year-old was airlifted by RACQ CQ Rescue from Hamilton Island to Mackay Base Hospital after being bitten on the left leg by a shark while climbing onto a boat anchored in Hook Passage in the Whitsundays.
The patient, who had just cooled off with a swim, was climbing a ladder to board the charter vessel about 6.30pm when the attack occurred. The swimmer suffered serious lacerations to the left leg and was given first aid by bystanders on the boat and transported to Hamilton Island.
RACQ CQ Rescue, with a trauma team including a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board, was tasked by Queensland Health about 7pm and airlifted the injured swimmer to Mackay Base Hospital where he underwent surgery resulting in 60 stitches.
Very early Sunday morning, RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked to transport a seriously ill cardiac patient from Clermont to Mackay Base Hospital for lifesaving treatment.
Sunday also marked the 18th anniversary of the CQ Rescue crash in 2003 which claimed the lives of three crewman.
Andy Carpenter, Stewart Eva and Craig Liddington were killed when the Bell 407 ditched into the sea between Cape Hillsborough and Little Green Island, off Shoal Point, on October 17, 2003.
Yesterday, a group of CQ Rescue staff, crew and their families as well as the brother of lost crewman Stewart Eva, trekked up to the memorial plaque at Turtle Point lookout at Cape Hillsborough to honour the lost crewmen, their courage and their sacrifice.
The darkest day in CQ Rescue’s history resulted in state-wide changes that made aeromedical helicopters safer and the introduction of the safer twin-engine IFR machines.
As part of Rescue Chopper Week, which runs from October 18 to 22, RACQ CQ Rescue will land at Marian State School in the Pioneer Valley tomorrow to raise awareness of the lifesaving service and visit with students and teachers.
The helicopter is scheduled to land on the school oval at 10am.
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RACQ CQ Rescue airlifted a driver after a single vehicle crash on the Bowen Developmental Road, near Mt Coolon, last night.
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