Over a four-day period in mid-March, CapRescue crews were tasked to six missions across Central Queensland, taking to the air for more than 15 hours to support patients across the region.
Rescue300 was deployed to a rural property near Clermont after an 8-year-old boy fell from a motorbike, suffering a suspected leg injury. The helicopter landed on scene before transporting the young patient to Rockhampton Hospital for further imaging and treatment, accompanied by his father.
The crew also responded to Mt Larcom, where a 17-year-old girl was winched from a walking trail after suffering a suspected snake bite. With winds reaching around 35 knots, the crew conducted the technical winch rescue before transporting the patient to Gladstone Hospital for further medical care.
CapRescue Base Manager and pilot Lucas Holt, who flew the mission, said the conditions added an extra layer of complexity to the task.
“The weather across the period was a little unpredictable, and the winds during the Mt Larcom task made it a challenging operation,” Mr Holt said.
“The crew handled the mission with a high level of professionalism and worked together to complete the winch and get the patient the care she needed.”
In addition to these missions, Rescue300 was also tasked to four further flights.
The crew completed an inter-facility transfer, transporting a man in his 50s from Thangool to Rockhampton Hospital for further treatment.
They also responded to Glendower Point for a man in his 70s suffering a medical condition, before transporting him to Mackay Hospital in a stable condition.
An inter-facility transfer was completed from Woorabinda to Rockhampton Hospital for a woman in her 50s, who was stabilised by the medical team prior to transport.
Rescue300 was also tasked from Thangool to Gladstone for a child with respiratory issues requiring further care.
From Thangool to Mt Larcom, Woorabinda, Clermont and Mackay, CapRescue continued to respond when it mattered most. Across more than 350,000 square kilometres, communities could take comfort in hearing the helicopter was overhead and help was on its way.