RAC Rescue celebrates 10,000 missions

The mission – responded to by RAC Rescue’s Jandakot base – involved the rescue of a man who had been injured by a falling concrete wall in Bruce Rock.

The callout was at around 5pm, and a helicopter launched approximately 15 minutes later. The aircraft flew 240km east to collect the patient at an airfield near the site of the incident, before transferring him to the Royal Perth Hospital for further treatment.

RAC Rescue, which launched its first mission on 11 August 2003, provides vital search and rescue (SAR) and air medical services to Western Australia as part of the state’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).

Over 2 million kilometers flown

Since its establishment, RAC Rescue has flown 2.1 million kilometers across its two bases at Bunbury and Jandakot, rescuing 6,700 patients and responding to 5,161 road incidents. The service has also responded to natural disasters such as the 2023 Kimberley floods.

“An extended mission to Bruce Rock reiterates the importance of the service in a state as vast as ours,” said Craig Waters, Deputy Commissioner Operations at DFES. “Its ability to rapidly deploy to regional locations and fly people direct to Perth’s major trauma centers significantly contributes to improved patient outcomes.

“Whether it’s evacuating sick people stranded by flood waters or responding to road crashes, offshore emergencies or cliff rescues, RAC Rescue is a major asset to WA’s emergency response capability and has helped save thousands of lives.

“I extend my thanks to the flight crews and support personnel for their commitment and dedication,” he added.

RAC Rescue previously celebrated two decades of operations last year.