The Sunshine Coast-based LifeFlight aeromedical crew yesterday winched an injured man from a tanker.
The LifeFlight helicopter was tasked in a multi-agency response by Retrieval Services Queensland at 9:30am to the ship 140km east of Mooloolaba.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) activated their Cairns-based Challenger aircraft to provide top cover for the offshore operation.
It is believed one of the tanker’s crew was injured when he fell seven metres.
The critical care LifeFlight doctor and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) flight paramedic as well as a rescue crewman were winched down to the ship and assessed a man in his 40s.
The medical team treated the man for lower limb, back and head injuries as well as a possible spinal injury.
The patient was winched back into the helicopter and flown to Sunshine Coast University Hospital for further treatment.
