The Bundaberg-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crew winched an injured man from a long-line fishing vessel, 100 nautical miles off the Queensland coast, late this morning.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) tasked the rescue helicopter to the boat’s Coral Sea location, just after 10am, after the man crushed his hand while trying to fix a rudder.
It is believed the incident happened around midnight when the vessel was 300 nautical miles off the Bundaberg coast.
The captain brought the boat closer to the coastline, so it was within safe flying distance for the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter to undertake an ocean winch rescue.
An AMSA Challenger 604 jet from Essendon in Victoria was also tasked to provide top cover for the LifeFlight chopper, for the off-shore operation.
The LifeFlight rescue crew officer was winched down to the deck of the boat to retrieve the man.
The crewman and patient were then carefully hoisted back into the rescue helicopter.
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Flight Paramedic treated him on-board the chopper as it flew back to the mainland.
It is believed the injured man’s crewmates on the fishing vessel had administered some first aid when the incident occurred.
The patient, aged in his 40s, was flown to Bundaberg Base Hospital in a stable condition.
