Patient: Tomasz Machajski (Wondai local)
Mission: Emergency aeromedical transfer after an eastern brown snake bite
LifeFlight Rescue: Specialist critical care during an inter-hospital transfer
Key Capabilities: Critical care doctor, aeromedical retrieval and emergency snake bite treatment
Bitten by One of Australia’s Deadliest Snakes
An ordinary day at home quickly became a life-threatening emergency when Wondai local Tomasz Machajski was bitten by an eastern brown snake, one of Australia's most venomous snakes. Mr Machajski was working on his house when his dogs began barking at a snake that had slithered onto the property. "My Jack Russell fox terrier, Ophelia, was going for the snake, and I didn't want her to get bitten," Mr Machajski said. "I thought if I could grab the snake behind the head, I could get it away from Ophelia, but it bit me as I tried to take hold of it." The snake bit him on the tip of his finger.
What Happens After an Eastern Brown Snake Bite?
Unsure what to do after the bite, Mr Machajski quickly applied a pressure bandage from his first aid kit and called Triple Zero (000).
“We have quite an extensive first aid kit and I was able to get a pressure bandage on,” he said.
An ambulance arrived within 20 minutes and transported him to Kingaroy Hospital.
While waiting for help, he initially felt well, but his condition rapidly deteriorated on the way to hospital.
“I was getting hot flushes, vomiting and felt pins and needles in my hand,” he said.
Medical staff administered antivenom before determining he required specialist care at Toowoomba Hospital.
LifeFlight’s Critical Care Aeromedical Transfer
The Toowoomba-based LifeFlight aeromedical crew flew to Kingaroy to transfer Mr Machajski to Toowoomba Hospital.
With a specialist critical care doctor onboard, the crew monitored and treated him throughout the flight, ensuring he received advanced medical care while being transported.
“They were very calm and knew what they were doing. They flew me to Toowoomba Hospital and I stayed in the ICU for a day,” he said.
Learning What to Do in the First Minutes
Following his recovery, Mr Machajski and his wife, Oksana, attended one of LifeFlight’s free First Minutes Matter trauma training workshops in Murgon.
The workshops teach practical emergency response skills, including how to respond to snake bites, severe bleeding, burns and cardiac arrest before paramedics arrive.
“The course was absolutely amazing. It helped to reinforce what I already know and taught my wife and me new things,” he said.
“The more people that are prepared, the more lives that are saved. Even if you take 10 per cent of it home, that’s 10 per cent more than you knew yesterday.”
Why the First Minutes Matter in a Snake Bite Emergency
LifeFlight Critical Care Doctor Philip Gardiner, who was on shift for Mr Machajski’s retrieval, said knowing how to respond immediately after a snake bite can save lives.
“If you’re bitten by a snake, you should get to the hospital to be assessed. Knowing what to do is life-saving, and it’s why courses like First Minutes Matter can be so beneficial,” Dr Gardiner said.
Mr Machajski said the experience had permanently changed how his family prepares for emergencies, including ensuring they now keep a snake bite pressure bandage at home.
“If you value your life, then do the First Minutes Matter course. You might be the difference to whether the people you love are with you next year,” he said.
