Walter McLean had been mustering all day and the 73-year-old Queensland cattle, and sheep grazier was on the quad bike heading back home. He was travelling along the fence line with the quad bike hit a clump of dirt, and Walter lost control, and it rolled.

The impact bent the handlebars, and Walter said the quad bike bounced off him breaking 22 of his 24 ribs. He also punctured both his lungs, lacerated his kidney, cracked his neck vertebrae and dislocated his collar bone.

A LifeFlight Roma SGAS helicopter crew flew out to the McLean’s 29,000 ha property. The pilot landed in the dark under utility headlights. Walter was put into an induced coma and flown to Princess Alexandra Hospital.

After he returned home, he said: “I’m very grateful for the LifeFlight helicopter service and its whole concept. And I’m sure there are many others out here who are too.” His wife congratulated the aeromedical team.

“The LifeFlight team did such a sterling, professional job. Thank goodness the local ambulance paramedic kept pushing for LifeFlight to come out for Walter. Flying Walter in the helicopter saved his life.”