LifeFlight critical care flight paramedic Brad Solomon has been there for Queenslanders in an emergency for close to three decades.
After thousands of aeromedical missions including search and rescues, motor vehicle accidents and transferring sick patients to hospitals right around the state, Brad is hanging up the rescue winching strop.
His career in aeromedicine took flight in 1997 when LifeFlight, then known as CareFlight, was in its infancy with a single helicopter operating out of the Gold Coast.
The 61-year-old started on the ground as a paramedic with Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), working across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Coolangatta.
CareFlight was based at John Flynn Hospital and was just down the road from the Coolangatta ambulance station.
“That’s how I became involved,” Brad said.
“I was employed by QAS and worked for CareFlight under a secondment. I trained for a few months and then stepped into the flight paramedic role full time on board a Bell 412.
“Before I worked at CareFlight, I’d never been on a helicopter. When paramedics came on board, we were the first dedicated medical and rescue crew officers in Queensland.”
The dual role enabled Brad to be prepared for anything, from rescue winches into water to providing life-saving medical care on the side of the road.
In 2011, he moved to LifeFlight full time as a critical care flight paramedic.
Brad’s role working on board the LifeFlight Surat Gas Aeromedical Service (SGAS) helicopters started the same year, helping local communities on the Toowoomba and Roma based aircraft.
He said the most common incidents he came across in the Maranoa and Darling Downs regions involved motor vehicles, cattle, horses and incidents with agricultural equipment such as silos and machinery.
“It was like stepping into another realm. It’s so remote and there are high acuity incidents that occur in these areas and having a helicopter there during the SGAS years certainly saved lives being on scene with a doctor and paramedic.”
Brad found more than one way to give back to the community by combining his love for cycling with his dedication to LifeFlight.
“One thing I’m very proud of is the Base to Base cycling event in the early 2010s,” he said.
Over a six-year period Brad and a team of avid cyclists rode from the Gold Coast to Toowoomba to raise funds for LifeFlight.
What started as a unique way to bring attention to the service gained traction as Australian athletic legends joined the cause.
Three-time green jersey Tour de France winner Robbie McEwen and two-time Olympic triathlete Courtney Atkinson supported the event, all having been impacted by LifeFlight’s services in the past.
“I kicked it off with the help of LifeFlight Foundation. I thought it was something different to bring attention to the service, but having those types of guys on board was unbelievable. We managed to raise over $300,000 during that time,” he said.
His passion for cycling even took him to the ‘top of Mount Everest’, twice.
“There is a worldwide challenge called ‘Everesting’ where you go to a hill and you ride up and down it until the accumulated ascent adds up to 8,848 metres, which is the height of Mount Everest,” Brad said.
“I’ve done it twice. Once in Toowoomba and once in the Sunshine Coast.”
Mountain climbing endeavours aside, Brad said one of the highlights of his career was working with LifeFlight chief medical officer Dr Allan Mackillop and LifeFlight chief executive officer Ashley van de Velde during the early days.
“I cannot overstate Ashley’s entrepreneurial success in steering this organisation. It’s been a phenomenal effort,” he said.
“Allan has always been a great support and advocated for the paramedics. He’s always had our interests in mind to increase our clinical capacity to improve our pre-hospital care.
“He’s been a terrific mentor and played a huge role in helping me throughout my career.”
Dr Mackillop praised Brad for being an integral part of LifeFlight’s journey.
“Brad has been with us from humble beginnings as a single aircraft operation on the Gold Coast to our current status as an internationally respected aeromedical and search and rescue organisation,” he said.
“His commitment has spanned both on the frontline and behind the scenes. He’s been a constant presence, sacrificing countless hours of his own time to respond to urgent operational requests and to support his fellow flight paramedics.
“Brad’s legacy is not only in the lives he has helped save, but also in the culture of dedication, humility, and service he has helped foster within LifeFlight. His presence will be deeply missed, but his influence will remain for years to come.”
Looking back on his journey, Brad said he’ll miss the camaraderie with his workmates the most.
“My fellow colleagues, both aviation and medical, have been so resilient, passionate and hard working that they set the standard for me that I always worked towards,” he said.
“I’ve walked away from my career feeling very thankful and grateful.
“The next cohort are very talented and capable and I’m looking forward to seeing the continued evolution of LifeFlight in the future.”
LifeFlight flight paramedic Aaron Hartle stepped into Brad’s role mid-June.
