Late night Medivac from Hamilton Island Report by MRQ Whitsunday

MRQ Whitsunday volunteers jumped to the rescue for a late night Medivac to Hamilton Island  

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At 10:30pm I got the call for a medivac out of Hamilton Island.

I jumped out of bed and made my way down to the marina where Rodney and Mark were already into prestart checks. I got stuck into the paperwork to get us moving and not long after, Ron arrived with the paramedic assisting carrying all the necessary equipment.

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We got underway at a steady pace. It wasn’t a lights and sirens job, but someone still needed us... and that’s what matters. There was a bit of chop out there with a 23-knot easterly, just enough to keep things interesting. So, we skirted up between Daydream and Shute Harbour over to Hammo.

Once we got into Hamilton Island, the usual emergency drop off point was full, so we had to switch plans and come alongside a long arm berth instead. Credit to the crew, quick thinking and smooth execution, we had it sorted in no time. The patient was handed over to the paramedics, and we were straight back on the water heading home.

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On the run back between South Molle and Shute Harbour, everything went smoothly. Back into the marina, patient and paramedic disembarked, and Mark gave a hand carrying equipment.

While backing around towards the fuel dock, we spotted something floating. Turned out to be an old tender in pretty rough shape, we couldn’t just leave it there. Ron and Rodney quickly grabbed a boat hook and we gently towed it over to the public jetty and tied it off, so it wasn’t a hazard to anyone else.

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After that it was fuel, wash down, and back into the pen. Tied up around 2am.

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Big thanks to the crew for making it a smooth operation.

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Crew: Ron M, Rodney S & Mark W,

Skipper: Nat R.

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