October ended in dramatic fashion with a major rescue operation involving multiple emergency service personnel on the last Saturday of the month.
Late in the afternoon RACQ CapRescue was tasked to attend a rural location approximately 25 miles West of Emerald where a woman had fallen down an active mineshaft. It is believed the patient aged in her mid-thirties, accidently fell whilst utilising the shaft ladder, falling up to 30 feet.
Queensland Ambulance Service Paramedics provided initial treatment on scene, by descending into the mine. Upon arrival of Rescue300 and with the assistance of the Queensland Fire Service, the onboard medical team were lowered to the patient to provide further medication and treatment prior to extrication from the vertical shaft.
Using a rescue stretcher, the Queensland Fire Service and Rescue300 crew were able to remove the woman safely. The patient was treated for suspected spinal, chest and head injuries resulting from the fall.
RACQ CapRescue transported the patient to the Royal Flying Doctors facility in Rockhampton, where she was immediately flown to Brisbane in a serious but stable condition to receive further treatment for her injuries.