Seven missions marks busy weekend for RACQ CQ Rescue

Yesterday at midday, the Mackay-based rescue helicopter was tasked by Queensland Police to assist with the search for a 36-year-old man reported missing in Pioneer Bay. Lee Eastham left the Pioneer Bay boat ramp around 16:30 on Thursday, 7 April, with a small black and white dog on board. He was reported missing Saturday afternoon after he failed to return from his trip.

RACQ CQ Rescue, with a Critical Care Paramedic on board, conducted an extensive aerial search of the area between Conway Point and Dingo Beach for about three hours for the missing man and his three-meter boat. Nothing was found.

At 15:15 yesterday, the helicopter was tasked to divert to a serious medical emergency happening on board a tourist boat located near Haslewood Island with the notification that people on board were performing CPR on a woman. The helicopter immediately diverted from the search and proceeded to Chalkies Beach, about 96km north of Mackay.

A woman, believed to be in her 50s, had been walking on the beach when she began experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath. She was transferred by the tourist boat crew back to the vessel anchored just off the beach at low tide. The helicopter medical team, including a Critical Care Paramedic and rescue crewman, arrived overhead and were quickly offloaded on the beach as the aircraft blades continued to turn. They were collected by a small tender and transferred to the tourist boat where the crew were performing CPR on the woman. About 20 other tourists were believed on board at the time.

The rescue helicopter then flew direct to Hamilton Island to refuel and await further instructions. The RACQ CQ Rescue medical team were later transferred back to Coral Sea Marina on board the boat after the woman was unable to be revived.

Teenager airlifted after dirt bike accident

Late Saturday, 9 April, RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked by Queensland Health to airlift a teenager critically injured in a dirt bike accident on Sarina Beach.

The 17-year-old rider lost control of the bike on the beach and suffered serious head and spinal injuries. It is believed the bike had been traveling about 80km/hr along the beach and the impact of the crash split the rider’s helmet. It is believed his cousin made the call and police were first on scene.

The rescue helicopter landed on the beach to meet first responders and ambulance officers just 10 minutes after take-off from Mackay Airport. Due to the incoming tide, the helicopter did not shut down as the patient was loaded into the aircraft. The helicopter quickly relocated to an oval adjacent to the beach so the medical team on board, including a Critical Care Paramedic and doctor, could continue to work on the patient for about 50 minutes before flying the teen to Mackay Base Hospital in a critical condition. It is believed the teenager has now been transferred to Brisbane.

Recently, RACQ opened a new refueling facility, provided by fuel supplier IOR, that they hope will improve the efficiency and cost management of aircraft refueling.