ILL KIWI TOURIST WINCHED FROM HARDY REEF PONTOON BY CHOPPER

June 30, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ILL KIWI TOURIST WINCHED FROM HARDY REEF PONTOON BY CHOPPER

An ill New Zealand man was winched by rescue helicopter from a popular tourist destination in the Whitsundays yesterday and airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital.

RACQ CQ Rescue was tasked by Queensland Health about 1pm yesterday that a 59-year-old man on a tourist vessel at Hardy Reef, about 80km north-east of Airlie Beach, had become ill and required medical evacuation. It is believed he had been snorkelling and became unwell after returning to the vessel.

After calling 000 for help, crew on board the tourist boat were instructed to transfer the ill man by tender to Reefworld for further medical assistance.

 The Mackay-based helicopter, with a doctor and Critical Care Paramedic on board, flew direct to a floating pontoon at Hardy Reef, not far from Reefworld. The chopper hovered overhead as the medical team, including a paramedic and rescue crewman, were winched down onto the pontoon and then transferred to Reefworld by boat to assess the patient.

 The helicopter continued to orbit Hardy Reef as the medical team worked to stabilise and relocate the patient to the floating pontoon by boat in order to prepare for a winch. Within 20 minutes of arrival at scene, the paramedic and patient were winched up into the helicopter in an ARV (Air Rescue Vest) off the pontoon, followed after by the rescue crewman.

 The patient was flown to Mackay Base Hospital arriving just before 4pm in a stable condition.

An ill New Zealand tourist was winched from Hardy Reef yesterday by RACQ CQ Rescue.

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Please credit any released photos and video footage to RACQ CQ Rescue.
Please note: Full title of rescue service is RACQ CQ Rescue.

For further information please contact:
Naomi Noy
RACQ CQ Rescue
Ph: 0417 578 182