A HEARSE needed to transport a coffin 500 km after Normanton Hospital's power generator broke down.
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It drove to Mount Isa so the body could be cremated, a "long time Normanton voter" said.
The blackout which began Wednesday January 21 and ended the following day meant the morgue’s air-conditioning could not be powered.
The coffin could not be transported by air because Regional Express Airlines aircraft were not accredited to carrying deceased persons.
“The generator hooked into the hospital blew – it was thousands of dollars in damage,” the resident said.
Rex needed to review the size of planes described as “flying cigars” by some Normanton residents, which limit the baggage weight.
“Down the track it will have to be rectified,” the resident said.
But Normanton’s power supply from Townsville and the hospital’s generator also needed to be examined, the resident said.
“We can have a power outage in Georgetown and our power comes out,” the resident said.
There was a power outage lasting three hours, and then 10 electrical surges within 15 minutes.
Nurses needed to unplug equipment, with one suffering mild electrocution in the process.
The generator was second hand and was previously used at Mackay Hospital.
The resident described the power situation as “disgusting” for Normanton residents.
A Rex spokeswoman said the company was “caught unaware” with the gulf's need to transport coffins.
“The Queensland Government tender did not state requirements for the transportation of coffins ex-Gulf ports.
“However the company has been working hard to make this operational and yesterday [Thursday] we completed our first such transportation successfully.”
Ergon Energy’s acting customer delivery manager Andrew Bowe said lightning was suspected to have been the cause of the blackout, which affected about 1000 customers.
A damaged earth wire was discovered halfway between Georgetown and Normanton by helicopter on the Thursday morning.
Mr Bowe apologised for the inconvenience to customers.