Rescue chopper called in to Hawks Nest for night mission

THE Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service (WRHS) made a rare night-time landing at Myall Park in Hawks Nest, to assist in a patient transfer on Wednesday, 16 July.

Around 5pm, the helicopter was tasked by NSW Ambulance to assist in the emergency transfer of a patient to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

“A man in his 70s, injured in a fall, was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and the helicopter’s critical care medical team for a head injury before being transported to John Hunter Hospital,” WRHS said in a statement.

Tea Gardens Fire and Rescue 471 were the first to arrive at the scene of the accident, and stabilised the patient before the ambulance arrived, with both services accompanied by NSW Police contingents to the field to meet the chopper.

That particular Wednesday night happened to also be training night for the many teams of the Myall River Hawks Junior RLFC, for whom Myall Park is home field.

Thanks to strong community connections through and between the Myall River Juniors and Tea Gardens Hawks senior football teams, word of the impending helicopter landing at the park was swiftly carried to the field, ensuring that the players were clear before the aircraft landed.

Plenty of parents and guardians were on hand to corral the kids out of the way, as the small army of emergency responders brought the patient to the sidelines, and then wheeled the gurney out to the helicopter.

The Junior Hawks, which this year features multiple teams between the ages of seven and 17, have been playing in between bouts of heavy rain, with some matches taking teams up into the Hunter Valley, and even down into the Central Coast.

Training was not stopped for long however, as once the ground responders were clear, they got right back to running their laps and drills in the chilly night air, pausing only to watch the Rescue Helicopter take off and zoom away to the south-west.

Operating for over 45 years, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter has grown to become a 24-7 aeromedical operation.

Its funding model includes a contract with the NSW Government, as well as significant input from corporate sponsors and community fundraising.

Each year, the Helicopter Service’s goal is to raise $12million to assist in funding its three base operations in Belmont, Tamworth and Lismore, and community donations ensure the quality, reliability and sustainability of the care that the service can provide to sick and injured people in Northern NSW.

By Thomas O’KEEFE