Key Stats Wide Bay-Burnett: FY25Â
- 306 people helped (up 14.6% on FY24)
- 756 flight hours (up 13%)
- 464 missions (up 9.8% – includes training)
- 8,497 people helped across the LifeFlight network (up 3.9%)
LifeFlight Bundaberg helped 14 per cent more people in the past year, completing more search and rescue missions than any Queensland base, according to new data released this week.
The record number contributed to another record year for the aeromedical organisation, with 8,497 people helped across the LifeFlight network in FY25 – 3.9 per cent higher than the previous year.
Servicing the Wide Bay-Burnett region and beyond, Bundaberg crews marked a series of milestones during their 27th year of service, which included a new AW139 helicopter and fundraising for a medical educator to deliver free First Minutes Matter emergency trauma training workshops.
LifeFlight’s fleet of helicopters, air ambulance jets and specially trained medical teams, including LifeFlight critical care doctors, flight nurses and paramedics, helped patients with a range of illnesses and injuries.
Aquatic missions, including search and rescues for missing boaties featured prominently, as did attending motor vehicle accidents which were up by 53 per cent.
In June the Bundaberg crew airlifted four people after their boat sank off the coast, forcing the crew to take shelter on Hoskyn Island.
Late last year LifeFlight winched four men from the water after their boat was swamped by a wave north of K’gari.
In January a man was winched from a car carrier vessel 12 kilometres off the Sunshine Coast after he became unwell.
People helped by mission/injury type:
- Inter-facility transfers – 175 (141) +24%
- Cardiac – 49 (37) +32%
- Motor vehicle accidents – 46 (30) +53%
- Animal related – 11 (12) -8%
- Search and rescue – 7 (12) -42%
LifeFlight Chief Operating Officer Lee Schofield, said Bundaberg was uniquely placed to execute more search and rescue missions than any other base during the year.
“A number of these take place over the water because of the base’s position near the coast and popular holiday hot spot K’gari,” he said.
“We’ve also seen overall patient numbers increase significantly, again highlighting the importance of the base to the Wide Bay-Burnett region.”
He said FY25 was the most significant in the not-for-profit’s history.
“Every hour we are called upon to airlift Queenslanders in distress, whether it’s hikers stranded on mountains, capsized boaties kilometres from land, or people needing urgent medical attention in major hospitals,” Mr Schofield said.
“It’s a mission our aeromedical crews carry out with great dedication with the goal of bringing equity in healthcare no matter where or when people need us.
“My sincere thanks go to all LifeFlight’s staff for the incredible work they do. The team effort and coordination across all our work groups is key to providing the world class standard of care and ensuring equity of health care in regional communities.
“To continue to meet this objective, we’re evolving our organisation with the best aircraft, advanced bases and facilities, and cutting-edge training unmatched in our region.”
Mr Schofield said LifeFlight’s growth was possible due to the support from the community, donors and philanthropy, government and new commercial partnerships.
“This generosity and support enable LifeFlight to keep helping more people each year as demand for our services continues to increase,” he said.
LifeFlight Medical Director Dr Jeff Hooper, said the breadth of the missions demonstrated the ability of the aeromedical crews to perform complex procedures under immense pressure.
“Our aeromedical teams provide advanced care under extremely challenging circumstances, whether that is treating patients on scene after serious car crashes, stabilising patients mid-air, rescuing people stranded in the ocean, or winching down a paramedic to hikers stranded on the side of a cliff face,” Dr Hooper said.
“This rapid aeromedical intervention is often the difference between life and death and comes after our crews undertake intensive training at the LifeFlight Training Academy, which prepares them for any situation they may face in the field.”
Dr Hooper said a key part of LifeFlight’s mission was the development and delivery of its free First Minutes Matter emergency trauma training workshops.
“This incredible initiative helps to build community resilience by giving participants the practical skills to manage life-threatening events such as motor vehicle accidents, farming incidents, stroke and snake bites.”
LifeFlight’s helicopter crews, operating from bases on the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Mount Isa, Toowoomba, Roma, and Brisbane, clocked up 3,732 missions in FY25, which included airlifting injured motorists, patients with cardiac problems, seafarers, hikers, and farmers injured by animals.
Overall, the number of missions was 10.5 per cent higher than the previous financial year while flight hours also increased by 15 per cent to 5,940.
Much of LifeFlight’s aeromedical work involved Inter-Facility Transfers (IFT) or moving patients between medical facilities. This ensures all communities have equal access to the best possible healthcare, no matter where they live.
Since taking to the skies 46 years ago LifeFlight has helped more than 90,000 people.
LifeFlight helicopters contribute to the Queensland Emergency Helicopter Network via a 10-year service agreement with the Queensland Government.
For more information on First Minutes Matter visit First Minutes Matter Program – LifeFlight.
