RACQ CQ Rescue, November 30, 2015 - What was meant to be a relaxing tropical holiday has ended with a dramatic emergency airlift from a cruise ship 230km offshore early this morning.
A 66-year-old Brisbane woman with an excruciating renal condition was winched into the RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter from the cruise liner Sun Princess and airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital arriving about 8am.
It is believed the woman was holidaying aboard the vessel, which departed Brisbane only two days ago, with her husband and children before she became ill.
RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked about 4am and upon departure had to refuel at Hamilton Island before heading the 86 nautical miles north-east of Hamilton Island to retrieve the patient from the vessel.
The helicopter service’s Rescue Crewman and a paramedic were winched down about 5.45am onto the deck of the 261-metre cruise ship to stabilise the patient and prepare her for transfer as the helicopter hovered overhead.
The paramedic and patient were then winched into the aircraft, followed by the Rescue Crewman, in a 20-minute operation.
On the return flight, the CQ Rescue helicopter had to refuel again at Hamilton Island before arriving at the Mackay Base Hospital with the patient aboard about 8am.
A 66-year-old Brisbane woman with an excruciating renal condition was winched into the RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter from the cruise liner Sun Princess and airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital arriving about 8am.
It is believed the woman was holidaying aboard the vessel, which departed Brisbane only two days ago, with her husband and children before she became ill.
RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked about 4am and upon departure had to refuel at Hamilton Island before heading the 86 nautical miles north-east of Hamilton Island to retrieve the patient from the vessel.
The helicopter service’s Rescue Crewman and a paramedic were winched down about 5.45am onto the deck of the 261-metre cruise ship to stabilise the patient and prepare her for transfer as the helicopter hovered overhead.
The paramedic and patient were then winched into the aircraft, followed by the Rescue Crewman, in a 20-minute operation.
On the return flight, the CQ Rescue helicopter had to refuel again at Hamilton Island before arriving at the Mackay Base Hospital with the patient aboard about 8am.
See also |
RACQ CQ Rescue Australia Air Ambulances
412 in Australia Air Ambulances