BMA CQ Rescue has released its 2026 Community Report, revealing 2025 as the busiest year in the lifesaving service’s history, with crews responding to hundreds of missions across the Whitsundays and wider Central and North Queensland.
Over the past 12 months, BMA CQ Rescue flew more than 339,000 kilometres, responded to 778 missions and provided urgent aeromedical care to 834 patients. The missions ranged from inter-hospital transfers to primary response and search and rescue operations across some of the region’s most remote and challenging terrain.
Chief Executive Officer Tim Healee said the figures highlight both increasing demand and the vital role community support plays in keeping the service operational.
“Behind every one of those 778 missions is a person facing one of the hardest days of their life. A family waiting. A community counting on help to arrive in time,” Mr Healee said.
“2025 was our busiest year yet, but it was also a year of extraordinary progress. With two state-of-the-art AW139 helicopters and our own Air Operator Certificate, BMA CQ Rescue has become one of the most capable and independent aeromedical providers in regional Australia.”
The report also marks a milestone year as the service celebrates 30 years of operation, including the arrival of its second AW139 helicopter in June 2025 and continued investment in crew training and community engagement.
General Manager Lisa Martin said the report focuses on the human impact behind the statistics.
“This report is about more than numbers. It is about lives saved, families reunited, and communities supported,” Ms Martin said.
“When floodwaters isolated North Queensland communities last year, our crew stepped forward without hesitation. When our community needs help, we will always be there to deliver lifesaving support when every second counts.”
Operating 24 hours a day, BMA CQ Rescue services the Mackay, Whitsunday and Isaac regions, remaining free for patients thanks to the ongoing support of local donors, businesses and volunteers.
CAPTION: Bowen, Dysart, Moranbah, Proserpine, Townsville, Clermont,
Collinsville, Hamilton Island, and Nebo were among BMA CQ Rescue’s top serviced locations in 2025. Photo supplied
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