Patient: Ava St Henry (Teenager horse lover)
Mission: Catastrophic internal injuries after a fall from a horse
LifeFlight Rescue: Rapid helicopter deployment after a severe horse-riding accident
Key Capabilities: Elite aeromedical teamwork and rapid response
The Horse-Riding Accident
When a beast spooked Ava’s beloved horse, Odette, Ava was flung onto a steel fence at high speed. The violent impact caused catastrophic internal injuries. Ava was in Mulgildie, close to 500 kilometres away from specialist care in Brisbane.
A Flying Intensive Care Unit
Within minutes of the emergency call, a LifeFlight helicopter took off from Bundaberg. LifeFlight helicopters are flying intensive care units. They carry advanced medical equipment and medicine and are manned by elite critical care doctors and flight paramedics. Helicopters ensures hospital-quality trauma reaches the patient as quickly as possible.
Specialised Medical Expertise
The critical care doctor used an ultrasound at the scene which raised concerns about internal damage. Hospital doctors later likened her injuries to catastrophic intestinal whip lash. The doctor recommended flying Ava straight to Brisbane. This seamless coordination is the direct result of intense, daily training LifeFlight aeromedical teams undergo.
“We do drills every morning to make sure that we are ready for anything. We are a small, high-powered team, and we work really well together.” LifeFlight Critical Care Doctor Aaron Quay
Shrinking Distance to Minutes
The incredible speed of the helicopter turned a long, bumpy road trip into a swift, smooth flight. The crew delivered Ava directly to specialist surgeons in time to save her life. Ava’s story is a powerful reminder that life can change in an instant.
“What LifeFlight did for me was unexplainable. They saved my life. They saved my family. Without them, I definitely wouldn’t be here today,” LifeFlight patient, Ava St Henry
