Truck driver airlifted after head injury

A cattle truck driver from Australia was airlifted to hospital by RACQ CQ Rescue after being kicked in the head by an uncooperative bull on 13 August.

The 40-year-old man suffered head and spinal injuries when the bull he was loading into a cattle truck at Mt Coolon, about 262km west of Mackay, suddenly changed direction on a loading ramp and lashed out with both his hind legs as the driver attempted to close a gate.

RACQ CQ Rescue, with a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board, was tasked just after 2pm and flew direct to the scene of the incident in 50 minutes. The helicopter travelled more than 380km to transport the man from the cattle property where the accident happened at Mt Coolon to the Mackay Base Hospital. An RACQ CQ Rescue crewman said the helicopter landed on a dirt runway adjacent to the property’s cattle yards to treat the man who was suffering a serious laceration to his head and severe back and neck pain. He was conscious throughout the ordeal.

The patient was flown to Mackay Base Hospital for further treatment arriving in a stable condition about 5.15pm.