Roma’s LifeFlight Surat Gas Aeromedical Service (SGAS) helicopter crew joined other emergency services, in the search for a man whose vehicle had rolled over and smashed into a tree off the side of a highway, in the early hours of this morning.
Trapped in his vehicle, obscured from the road by trees, the injured driver managed to ring a relative before his phone failed, giving him a rough location to alert emergency services.
The rescue helicopter was tasked just after 4am (Sun 9th April) and began a search, flying at approximately 500 feet above a stretch of highway north of Roma, with the crew wearing Night Vision Goggles (NVG) in the effort to find the injured man.
The crash site was located by emergency crews who were also searching on the ground.
The LifeFlight SGAS helicopter pilot landed the aircraft in a paddock close to the incident.
The RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Critical Care Doctor and Flight Paramedic joined Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics in treating the injured driver.
After he was released from the wreckage, the man, who is aged in his fifties, was driven by QAS to the waiting helicopter.
Suffering chest and other injuries, he was airlifted to Roma for further treatment in hospital.
Tasked by Queensland Health, the LifeFlight SGAS helicopter and crew performed this mission as part of the SGAS partners’ commitment to assisting in providing the south west region and beyond, with community aeromedical coverage, by donating 150 flying hours each year.
With aircraft based in Roma and Toowoomba, the LifeFlight SGAS helicopter service is fully funded by the four SGAS partners.
