MARINE STING, MEDICALS AND FALL CAP A BUSY WEEKEND FOR CHOPPER
March 6, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARINE STING, MEDICALS AND FALL CAP A BUSY WEEKEND FOR CHOPPER
RACQ CQ Rescue has completed seven missions since Friday including airlifting an elderly man from Ayr after he fell from a roof and transporting a tourist stung on the face by an Irukandji jellyfish in the Whitsundays.
At 11.45am today, the Mackay-based rescue helicopter was tasked by Queensland Health to airlift a 73-year-old Ayr man with suspected broken bones and serious internal injuries after he fell from a roof at his home. The patient has been flown north to Townsville University Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
Overnight, the rescue helicopter was tasked by Queensland Health to transfer two seriously ill patients, one from Proserpine to Mackay Base Hospital with a respiratory condition, and another man from Clermont with a serious leg infection, in a marathon seven-hour mission.
On Sunday, RACQ CQ Rescue flew 3.5 hours to transfer a worker with suspected appendicitis from the Burton Coal Mine, about 150km south-west of Mackay, to Mackay Base Hospital. The helicopter was landed in a dirt clearing at the coal mine site about midday and the woman was treated and administered pain relief before being flown to hospital in Mackay, arriving about 3.30pm.
On Friday, a 41-year-old New South Wales man was stung on the face by an Irukandji jellyfish while swimming at Hamilton Island. The helicopter was tasked by Queensland Health about 9.45am and the onboard medical team collected anti-venom from the hospital before flying 90km north to Hamilton Island, landing at the airport. The patient, who was holidaying in the Whitsundays, was in considerable pain and suffering symptoms of the potentially deadly Irukandji syndrome before being transferred to Mackay Base Hospital in a serious condition.
The Mackay-based rescue helicopter has already completed 120 missions so far this year.
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RACQ CQ Rescue flew to Ayr, Burton Coal Mine and Hamilton island to airlift ill and injured patients over the weekend.
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