ILL FISHERMAN WINCHED FROM VESSEL 140KM OFFSHORE
February 13, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ILL FISHERMAN WINCHED FROM VESSEL 140KM OFFSHORE
RACQ CQ Rescue has winched an ill fisherman off a vessel 140km offshore this morning and flown him to hospital.
The Mackay-based rescue helicopter was tasked at daylight to airlift a 25-year-old Indonesian crewman from the vessel Straight Shooter 2 who was suffering acute abdominal pain and required urgent medical attention.
RACQ CQ Rescue departed Mackay Airport with a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board and arrived at the vessel, which was located about 8km from the Creal Reef lighthouse, about 40 minutes later.
The helicopter hovered overhead amid 30 knot winds and scattered rain to winch the rescue crewman down from the aircraft onto a large clear platform on the back of the 20-metre vessel.
The patient had reportedly been ill for 48 hours so the vessel was forced to travel back towards the coast to rendezvous with rescuers.
The patient was secured into an Air Rescue Vest (ARV) and was winched up with the crewman into the helicopter within 20 minutes of arrival on scene. He arrived at the Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition at 8.30am.
It was the fourth search and rescue mission completed by the RACQ CQ Rescue crew in just three days.
Today, the aerial search for a missing 53-year-old woman on a rural property at Koumala continues despite the wet weather.
Helen Barnett was last seen around 3pm on Sunday, February 13 when it is believed she went for a walk on her Turners Paddock Road property, which encompasses several hundred acres.
An aerial search by the rescue helicopter yesterday failed to find any sign of her but the helicopter crew will continue to scour the heavy bush land, thick vegetation and long grass of the Koumala property.
[ENDS]
RACQ CQ Rescue has winched an ill fisherman off a vessel 140km offshore and flew him to hospital.
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