Already this year, the Mackay-based rescue helicopter has airlifted 17 people who’ve suffered injury, some even life-threatening or fatal, as a result of motor vehicle accidents.

A man was killed on Saturday and a child injured on Sunday in two separate motorbike accidents on remote properties near Mt Coolon. Combined with the tragic statistics last weekend of seven deaths in 72 hours on Queensland roads, social and travel restrictions being lifted across the state and with school holidays approaching, the rescue service considers it vital to remind motorists about adhering to the Fatal Five as they hit the road.

RACQ CQ Rescue pilot Owen Maitland said the rescue helicopter service airlifted, on average, more than two patients a month with injuries from road accidents. Other recent serious accidents attended by the Mackay-based rescue helicopter included a truck rollover, where the driver and his passengers were lucky to escape with their lives, and another motorbike rider who suffered a serious spinal injury.

Maitland said: “In 2019, RACQ CQ Rescue completed 34 tasks involving transferring patients injured in motor vehicle accidents to hospital. Unfortunately, so far this year we’ve already airlifted 17 people who’ve suffered injury, some quite serious, as a result of road accidents, including six in the last month.

“The relaxing of social restrictions makes now a really important time to reflect on the Fatal Five and road safety. With school holidays again nearly upon us and now with the freedom to travel around the state, drivers should be planning their journeys, checking on road conditions and closures and ensuring their vehicles are adequately maintained for travel. It’s incredibly sad to hear more than 100 people have lost their lives on our roads already this year.”