The jet was due to fly to Townsville this morning with only the crew on board, but an urgent retrieval to Papua New Guinea will see CareFlight’s team land at their new hangar for the first time later this afternoon, having retrieved a seriously injured Australian holiday maker.
“The patient was apparently climbing a mountain when he fell 20 metres landing on his back, he’ll be treated at Townsville Hospital’s Neurosurgical Unit,” said CareFlight Qld CEO Ash van de Velde.
As a result of increased demand for patient retrieval, CMS Air Ambulance, will permanently base its second jet in Townsville, with the organisation’s Lear 45 jet remaining on standby at Gold Coast International Airport.
“We’ve been performing jet retrievals from our Gold Coast Hangar for many years, but as international job numbers continued to increase we needed to expand further north to better service our patients, and identified Townsville as the best location,” said CareFlight Qld CEO Ash van de Velde.
The location is already proving successful, with not one but two CareFlight patients being flown into Townsville today. CareFlight’s Lear 45, based out of the Gold Coast, will also fly in this afternoon with a 43 yr old female who’s suffering from Decompression Illness. The Dive Master will undergo treatment in Townsville Hospital’s Decompression Chamber.
Already this month CMS Air Ambulance has performed 11 patient retrievals to various destinations including; Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Darwin.
The medically configured Lear 36A jet will be on standby 24/7 at CareFlight’s Townsville International Airport hangar, ideally located to service Port Moresby, the Pacific and Asia. Flights can be airborne within 90 minutes and all carry a critical care doctor and nurse, ensuring patients the best possible care.
“CareFlight's existing strong medical infrastructure in Townsville means that our local doctors, who have significant retrieval experience, will staff the jet alongside a CMS registered nurse,” said Mr van de Velde.
CMS Air Ambulance is proudly supported by Townsville Airport Corporation.
Media Contact Renee Buckingham 0421 381 023
All profits from CMS Air Ambulance are directed back to CareFlight Qld’s not-for-profit community rescue helicopters, RACQ CareFlight Rescue.