RACQ CapRescue has near-record month of rescues in May

In May 2023, RACQ CapRescue performed 48 tasks, with a near-record number of hours in the air, costing over A$1.2 million.

These operational costs exceeded the previous record set in January this year of A$1.1 million, with the average number of tasks per day continuing to grow.

“We are currently averaging 1.3 tasks per day, however, the number completed in May was closer to 1.5,” said Operations Manager Kirsty Wooler.

Some of the rescues performed in May included a night vision search of a rural location south of Agnes Waters, a bull altercation in Baralaba, a motor vehicle accident south of Gladstone and more than 30 inter-facility transfers throughout the region from Dysart to Thangool.

“When lives are at risk, Central Queensland can trust our crew to be there. The speed of response and capability to swiftly rescue and transport a patient can be the difference between life and death,” added Wooler.

RACQ CapRescue receives 60 per cent of its funding from the Queensland Government; the remaining 40 per cent must come from the community to ensure the service continues at no cost to the patient – particularly as its estimated annual operating costs are $12 million and the numbers of tasks are increasing.

This growth in rescues performed is reflected in RACQ LifeFlight’s records being broken in 2022.