Two injured hikers were rescued in a challenging multi-agency operation in the Glass House Mountains this afternoon. (Sat 9th)
The Sunshine Coast RACQ Lifeflight Rescue helicopter was tasked to the popular mountain area around 12.30pm, after reports two people had fallen a significant distance, leaving one injured and one unaccounted for.
The rescue helicopter crew quickly managed to pinpoint the position of both the injured people.
After consultation with other emergency services already on scene, the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Critical Care doctor and Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Flight Paramedic were winched down to the most seriously injured of the two.
He had fallen down a steep rock face and landed hard, against a tree, in bushland at the base of the rocks.
Medical equipment and a stretcher were also hoisted to the scene, in difficult weather conditions, which were worsening rapidly.
The aeromedical team worked with QAS paramedics to treat the injured man, who was loaded onto the stretcher and carried down the mountain; poor visibility and low cloud making it too unsafe for a winch extraction.
The patient, who is aged in his twenties, was transferred to the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter and flown to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in a critical condition.
The other injured hiker was also carried from the mountain by Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, and State Emergency Service personnel and was treated by QAS, before they transported her by road to Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
