The Sunshine Coast-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crew has performed a delicate and lengthy operation to winch a seriously ill man from a cargo ship this morning. (Thurs 3rd March)
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) began the operation late last night (Wednesday 2nd March), off the coast of Mooloolaba.
The RACQ LifeFlight Rescue medical crew travelled with Queensland Water Police on a boat, to board the freighter and treat the patient, just before midnight.
The man, aged in his 40s, was suffering a medical condition and had gone into cardiac arrest.
A QAS Flight paramedic stayed on board the vessel overnight, until the weather conditions cleared sufficiently for the rescue chopper crew to fly to the ship.
With heavy rain falling and storms nearby, a careful assessment and consultation about the options and conditions was undertaken.
A stretcher winch by the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crew was deemed the safest way to move the patient off the boat.
A Rescue Crew Officer, QAS Flight Paramedic and Critical Care Doctor were all winched down to the vessel.
They joined the Flight Paramedic who had stayed with the patient overnight, and QAS officers who boarded the vessel, with the assistance of QPS this morning.
The patient was secured in a stretcher then winched into the helicopter, accompanied by the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Critical Care Doctor.
The remaining aeromedical crew members were then hoisted into the aircraft.
“The weather conditions made this winch operation particularly challenging but we are prepared and trained for these missions,” said RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Aircrew Officer Scott Reeman.
The patient was in a serious but stable condition, when he was flown to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital for further treatment.
