LifeFlight Mount Isa crew soars in record year

LifeFlight’s Mount Isa aeromedical crew airlifted 16 missing people in the North West in 2024 during a bumper year where helicopter missions surged by 34 per cent.

The helicopter crew helped 103 people and flew a total of 176 hours during the 12 months.

It included a diverse range of missions from motor vehicle crashes, people injured by animals and search and rescues for people lost in the bush.

Statistics released this week show the Mount Isa numbers helped fuel another record year for LifeFlight, with 8,477 people helped.

The figure was 13 per cent higher than 2023 and more than any other year in the not-for-profit’s history.

2024 also marked the start of construction of the new $31.8 million LifeFlight – Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) base, establishing a vital aeromedical hub for the Mount Isa region.

LifeFlight Chief Operating Officer Lee Schofield, said Mount Isa missions were unique given the landscape and remote area covered.

“Our aeromedical crews can be tasked to everything from motor vehicle crashes, farming accidents to search and rescues, all in the one day,” Mr Schofield said.

“It is why our crews are trained to handle all eventualities and are adept at handling complex missions.

“Queensland’s strong population growth combined with our expanded capabilities mean we are called on more to help Queenslanders whenever and wherever we are needed.

“It is why we are investing in new training programs, AW139 helicopters and bases in the regions where we operate.”

He said this year LifeFlight would also expand its free First Minutes Matter trauma training workshops across the state.

“This is an important step in improving community resilience, especially at a time when the number of patients needing help grows year on year,” Mr Schofield said.

LifeFlight Chief Medical Officer Dr Allan MacKillop, said aeromedical crews were ready to help with a vast range of medical emergencies in some of the remotest parts of the state.

“Our medical staff undergo intensive aeromedical training at the LifeFlight Training Academy, including Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET), rescue winching and clinical scenario training, so they are ready for any eventuality,” Dr MacKillop said.

“They can be called out to administer emergency medicine under the most trying circumstances, such as wild weather, or the aftermath of a multi vehicle accident.

“It is why our helicopters are fitted out as mobile intensive care units with specially designed medical equipment for life-saving care, whether that is operating 35,000 feet above the ground in a Challenger jet or in the back of a helicopter.

“This aeromedical intervention is critical, significantly increasing a patient’s chance of survival, so it is vitally important.”

LifeFlight’s helicopter crews, operating from bases on the Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Mount Isa, Toowoomba, Roma, and Brisbane, clocked up 3,534 missions in 2024, which included airlifting injured motorists, patients with cardiac problems, seafarers, hikers, and farmers injured by animals.

The number of missions was 24 per cent higher than 2023 while flight hours also increased by 20 per cent to 5,551.

As in previous years, 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.

LifeFlight has helped more than 90,000 people since first taking to the skies in 1979 on the Sunshine Coast.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS: 

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