The Sunshine Coast-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter last year helped 448 people in the past year, contributing to a record 12 months for LifeFlight Australia.
Motor vehicle incidents were the most common reason for call-outs for the local chopper last year, being called into action 71 times to crashes involving motorists and motorcyclists, both on and off road.
The next most common incidents were cardiac (63), neurological (44), serious illness or infection (34) and non-COVID respiratory problems (26).
Overall, the Sunshine Coast base crew spent 673 hours in the air at a cost of about $11.2 million, which came at no cost to patients.
It was a record year for LifeFlight Australia as a whole, with crews coming to the aid of 6978 people.
Spokesperson Lauren Cooney from naming rights sponsor RACQ urged drivers to put safety first and avoid the fatal five to reduce the number of serious crashes on roads across the region.
“We saw some horrific crashes on the Sunshine Coast last year and it is really disappointing to know that was the number one reason why crews were sent out in 2022,” she said.
“Last year, we had 299 people tragically killed on Queensland roads; it was our worst road toll in more than a decade.
“We know that overwhelmingly the fatal five account for so many of these fatal crashes: that’s speeding, drink and drug driving, distraction, fatigue and not wearing a seatbelt.
“When you are behind the wheel you need to make sure that all your efforts are being put into getting to your destination safely.”
LifeFlight group head of operations Yvette Lutze said the figures showed how indispensable the aeromedical service is to the Sunshine Coast region.
“These are not just numbers to us, they’re actually people,” she said.
“It’s someone’s mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter, and they’re at their most vulnerable. That matters to us.
“They don’t have a choice in how they’re transported and it’s up to us to provide them the critical care that they need in the safest possible way.
“It’s not something that we take lightly here at LifeFlight.”
The Sunshine Coast crews played a major role in the aerial response to the devastating flood events in early 2022, in which at least 50 people and many pets were winched, rescued or airlifted by RACQ LifeFlight Rescue choppers.
“The crews were so busy over that period. Our bases are manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” Ms Lutze said.
“That put us in a position to respond, at any hour of the day or night, to the emergency as it was unfolding.
“The crews were going out, they were conducting things such as searches, rescues, winching and medical transport operations.
“There were people who no one actually knew were missing.
“One of the great things about our service and the helicopters is the agility of our helicopter. It can get to places that other aircraft or means of transport can’t, for example, a car or a boat.”
The service is funded by a combination of a service agreement with the Queensland Government, community fundraising, RACQ sponsorship and profit-for-purpose enterprises.
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