CHOPPER FLIES MORE THAN 3000KM OVER EASTER LONG WEEKEND
April 11, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHOPPER FLIES MORE THAN 3000KM OVER EASTER LONG WEEKEND
The Easter long weekend kept RACQ CQ Rescue crews on the hop with a marathon 13 missions completed in just four days.
The Mackay-based rescue helicopter has flown more than 3000km in 38 hours since Good Friday, transferring patients with a range of illnesses including marine stings, respiratory complications, a stroke, head injuries, cardiac complaints and injuries suffered as a result of motor vehicle accidents.
The helicopter was tasked to four medical evacuations from islands in the Whitsundays, two hospital transfers from Collinsville, two from Moranbah, Bowen, Clermont and the transfer of a seriously ill patient from Mackay to Townsville.
RACQ CQ Rescue flew to Hamilton Island on Good Friday for a 47-year-old suffering a marine sting while swimming that morning and returned again the next day to airlift a patient with a respiratory condition who required hospitalisation.
The service was also tasked to Hayman Island on consecutive days over the weekend, transferring a two-year-old with breathing difficulties on Easter Sunday and an American tourist with obstetric complications to Mackay Base Hospital on Monday.
The helicopter was tasked by Queensland Health to Clermont on Saturday for a teenage girl who suffered a head injury after falling from a dirt bike while mustering on a cattle property, and on Sunday, airlifted a man from Collinsville who was injured in a ute rollover on a private property, transporting him to Mackay Base Hospital with suspected spinal injuries.
On Monday an elderly Mackay man was transferred by helicopter to Townsville being seriously ill with internal bleeding in a five-hour mission.
About 8.30am today, RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked by Queensland Health to airlift a patient from Labona Airfield, about 300km from the coast, with a cardiac condition and transfer him to Mackay Base Hospital.
Immediately after the helicopter’s return to base about midday, the helicopter was tasked again by Queensland Health and is now headed south-west of Carmila to airlift a woman injured in a horse fall.
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RACQ CQ Rescue has flown more than 3000km in 38 hours across Central Queensland since Good Friday.
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