Sailor airlifted from bulk carrier
The landing took place as the ship lay 20 km (12 miles) off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
On 28 October, a helicopter flying for RACQ CQ Rescue landed on the deck of a 230-m (750-ft) cargo ship to transfer an ill crewman to hospital. The landing took place as the ship lay 20 km (12 miles) off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
The Mackay-based rescue helicopter was tasked at around 13:00 hrs, after the service was informed that a crew member onboard the Indian vessel Jag Aarati required urgent medical treatment and hospitalisation as he was suffering severe abdominal pain. RACQ CQ Rescue flew 10 minutes east to the vessel’s Hay Point anchorage and landed on the heli deck of the ship. An RACQ CQ Rescue air crewman said the aircraft did not power down upon landing on the deck, so the rotor blades continued to turn as the unwell patient was secured into the Stryker stretcher on the aircraft.
The helicopter, with a rescue crewman and critical care paramedic (CCP) onboard, arrived at the Mackay Base Hospital with the patient in a stable condition just 10 minutes after take-off. The aircraft was back at its base at Mackay Airport at 14:20 hrs.
The mission marked the fourth time this year RACQ CQ Rescue has assisted with the transfer of a sick international sailor from one of the huge bulk carriers anchored in the region.