A CATTLE station worker has been flown to Brisbane after she was trapped under more than 1000 kilograms of hay bales while working on Taldora Station near Julia Creek on Monday night.
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The 31-year-old woman was rescued in a combined effort by the RACQ NQ Rescue Helicopter and Royal Flying Doctor Service.
She was flown to Townsville Hospital by RFDS before being relocated to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane where she underwent surgery.
RACQ NQ Rescue Helicopter chief executive Alex Dorr said they worked with the Royal Flying Doctor Service to fly the woman to Townsville Hospital.
“The RACQ NQ Rescue Helicopter arrived on scene where the woman was extricated from under the hay bales suffering serious spinal injuries and multiple fractures,” he said.
“The RACQ NQ Rescue helicopter then airlifted the patient from the property and linked up with the Mount Isa RFDS crew at a nearby station airstrip.
“The female patient was then transferred to the RFDS plane and flown to Townsville Hospital in a serious but stable condition.”
The incident outlined the need for both the NQ Rescue Rescue Helicopter and Royal Flying Doctor Service were needed to respond to emergencies in remote parts of the North West, Mr Dorr said.
“This incident just highlights the mantle of safety provided by all our emergency services in North West Queensland,” he said.
“It’s the second job we have done with the Royal Flying Doctor Service recently. It just highlights that all our services out here work together and both services are needed.”
The helicopter has the ability to land in remote areas where a landing strip was not available, but fixed-wing aircraft are able to provide medical care to patients on longer flights.
