MARATHON LONG WEEKEND FOR REGION'S RESCUE CREWS
May 2, 2022
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARATHON WEEKEND FOR REGION’S RESCUE CREWS WITH SEVEN TASKS
A child died and another was airlifted to hospital after a horrific smash on the Bruce Highway south of Bowen last night.
In a marathon six-hour mission, RACQ CQ Rescue transported a 12-year-old who suffered serious pelvic injuries to Mackay Base Hospital after the head-on accident which happened at 6.30pm at Gregory River, about 20km north of Proserpine.
Another child died at the scene when a Nissan ute travelling north collided with a Toyota RAV 4 travelling south. The Toyota had three occupants including a woman and two children.
RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked by Queensland Health and landed at the accident scene on the highway, but the three injured patients including the driver of the Nissan were urgently transported to Proserpine Hospital by Queensland Ambulance.
RACQ CQ Rescue then flew to the Proserpine hospital and waited to be tasked to transfer the injured child to Mackay. The 12-year-old was escorted in the aircraft by a family friend and arrived at hospital about 11pm.
It was a horrific end to the weekend which saw the Mackay-based helicopter complete seven missions across the region.
On Saturday night, RACQ CQ Rescue airlifted a patient who had been gored in the abdomen and kicked in the head by a bull at a rodeo event near Bloomsbury.
The helicopter, with a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board, landed at Lakeside Airport about 92km north of Mackay to receive the patient from Queensland Ambulance crews. The helicopter crew reported the patient, believed to be a rodeo clown from Townsville, was in significant pain despite pain relief being administered. The patient was flown to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition arriving just after 11pm.
On Friday, RACQ CQ Rescue airlifted a seriously injured patient from Bowen after a car jack failed and he was crushed by the vehicle he was working on. The rescue helicopter was also tasked by Queensland Health that day to airlift a patient from St Lawrence who suffered a life-threatening cardiac episode.
On Thursday night a critically ill patient was transported from Bowen to Townsville University Hospital for further specialist care.
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RACQ CQ Rescue has completed seven mission over the long weekend including the airlift of a child from a horrific motor vehicle accident north of Proserpine 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