The RACQ CareFlight chopper was attracting plenty of attention today, but there was no need for alarm.
The rescue service’s Paramedics were dropped from a hovering chopper onto a moving boat as part of a tough training exercise just off Point Danger on the Gold Coast.
“As an AusSAR contractor we are called to assist in search and rescue jobs in our flight region regularly, so training days like this are essential,” said CareFlight Chief Pilot Dave Bashir.
AusSAR is the national search and rescue service which operates out of Canberra. Depending on the incident AusSAR will call on assistance from a number of organisations such as the Defence Force, trained aviation organisations and emergency medical helicopters, just to name a few.
As part of the audit RACQ CareFlight’s crew performed a number of testing sea rescues. Paramedics were winched onto a moving vessel and hoisted back to the chopper with the rescued patient also on the cable. In another exercise the patient was thrown a line and winched back to the helicopter solo from the moving boat.
Dave Bashir said these sorts of water rescues are very demanding on the entire crew, not just the Paramedic being hoisted and required a lot of training and team work.
“It’s a significant day for all our operations staff, during the exercises every Pilot, Air Crewman and Paramedic working on the CareFlight chopper is closely scrutinised by AusSAR officials," said Dave Bashir.
“During sea rescues the Pilot has the tough job of keeping the helicopter steady, while the Air Crewman has to get the Paramedic on the moving vessel quickly and safely regardless of sea conditions,” said Bashir.
Media Contact Renee Buckingham 0421 381 023