RACQ CQ Rescue has once again proven its value as the Mackay-based rescue helicopter completed nine missions over the weekend, flying more than 2,200km since Friday visiting Dysart, Collinsville, Hamilton Island, Moranbah, Olive Downs and Labona Airfield, about 160km north-west of Clermont.
At about 4:00am Saturday, the rescue helicopter was tasked by Queensland Health to fly to Labona Airfield, about 300km west, to transfer a worker injured in an accident at the Carmichael Mine site.
A 42-year-old Charters Towers man was airlifted in the marathon five-and-a-half-hour mission with fractures and a dislocated shoulder after he was seriously injured while working on a truck at the remote mine site.
With a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board, the rescue chopper was refuelled at Moranbah before flying directly to the site to treat and transfer the injured worker.
He was flown to Mackay Base Hospital arriving in a stable condition about 9am.
RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked to another mine site on Sunday, the new Olive Downs complex, about 40km west of Moranbah.
A sub-contractor required immediate evacuation to hospital after suffering a serious cardiac episode.
The chopper flew to the Pembroke site at about 3:30pm and landed on the emergency helipad with a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board.
The 56-year-old Victorian worker was airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition.
Later that day, a Moranbah patient with a pre-existing medical condition was also flown to Mackay Base Hospital.
RACQ CQ Rescue completed 638 missions in 2022, which is the second busiest year on record for the Mackay rescue helicopter service.
The RACQ CQ Rescue Helicopter completed nine missions last weekend. Photos supplied
