The RACQ CareFlight Rescue Helicopter treated five seriously injured patients over the Easter Break.

On Good Friday a 20 year old male surfer was airlifted after a dramatic rescue just off South Stradbroke Island.  The man had suffered a dislocated pelvis and was treated by a CareFlight doctor and paramedic on the beach, before being winched up to the aircraft and transported to Gold Coast Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The chopper was sent straight from this job to a two vehicle accident at Rathdowney along with the organisation's other chopper based in Toowoomba.  The Gold Coast based chopper was stood down when it was found only one patient required airlifting.  The Toowoomba based helicopter transported a 31 year old female with possible head injuries to the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

The busy period continued on Easter Saturday, when a 23 year old male suffered a badly broken ankle after jumping into a watering hole at Texas.  The was airlifted to St Vincent’s Hospital in Toowoomba in a stable condition.

A 73 year old woman from Imbil, near Gympie was also transported to Nambour Hospital after she sustained minor head injuries when the car she was passenger in veered off the road and hit a tree.

On Saturday night, a crew flew to Caloundra to transport a 41 year old man after he nearly drowned when he helped his wife out of heavy surf at Kawana Beach.  He was airlifted to the Royal Brisbane Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Matt O’Rourke, RACQ CareFlight Rescue’s Chief Crewman says the crew is on high alert for holiday periods.

“People driving long distances, combined with free time to take part in hobbies like surfing or riding motorbikes, results in mishaps every year.

"While you don't want to end up in our helicopter on the way to hospital, it is nice to know we are available if something does go wrong,” he said.

Every year RACQ CareFlight’s iconic blue and yellow choppers help more than 700 sick or injured patients.  With a response time as little as six minutes, the RACQ CareFlight Rescue service is provided to the communities of South East Queensland and Northern New South Wales 24/7, at no cost to patients.

Media Contact – Brooke Chapman 0419 139 139