The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter was called out to a number of accidents during the holiday period, beginning on Friday December 27.
At 7.30pm the crew responded to a call-out to a Wooli address after a report that a person fallen three meters through a Perspex roof onto concrete. The 47 year old male patient suffered suspected head and spinal injuries in the fall and was stabilised on scene by ASNSW Paramedics and the Helicopter Critical Care Medical Team before he was flown to Lismore Hospital in a stable condition.
The following day, Saturday 28 during mid afternoon, the helicopter attended a motorcycle accident on the Armidale Road at Nymboida, where a female rider suffered injuries in the accident.
Later that day at around 7.30pm the helicopter crew were called to Maclean to attend to 19 year old male, trampled by a bull at the Lawrence Rodeo. After treatment by ASNSW Paramedics and the Helicopter Critical Care Medical Team the man was transported to Lismore Base Hospital in a stable condition.
At approximately 3.30pm on Wednesday January 1, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked by Ambulance New South Wales to reports of a multi vehicle accident 5km north of Ulmarra on the Pacific Highway. Initial reports were of two persons trapped, with numerous other patients with serious injuries. Due to the severity of the accident and reports of multiple patients, a second Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to the location.
Upon arrival at scene the helicopters Critical Care Medical teams assisted local Ambulance Paramedics and Emergency Services treated and released the two trapped occupants.
Once released a 30 year old male patient was flown direct to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious but stable condition suffering multiple leg fractures and head injuries.
After a lengthy extraction by Emergency Services the second patient a 43 year old male was flown by the second Westpac Rescue Helicopter suffering leg and pelvis injuries.
Three remaining occupants of the vehicles were transported to Grafton and Lismore Base Hospital with minor injuries.
The highway was closed in both directions north of Old Post Office Lane and traffic diverted via Summerland Way.
Just after 430pm on Friday January 3 the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter responded to Samson Bluff Beach to a reported motorcycle accident on the beach. ASNSW Paramedics and the Helicopter Critical Care Medical Team treated and stabilised a 24 year old male for possible spinal injuries. Due to the location, a stretcher winch was carried out to recover the man and he was flown to Lismore Hospital in a stable condition for further treatment.