Medical rescue of fisherman by Army Black Hawks

Two Australian Army S-70A Black Hawk helicopters supporting the Australian Maritime Safety Authority's Rescue Coordination Centre have contributed to the successful aero medical evacuation of a crewman from an Australian fishing vessel 150 nautical miles north east of Bundaberg, Queensland this evening.

At the request of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Townsville-based Army 5th Aviation Regiment Black Hawks, with an aero medical evacuation team on board, relocated to Bundaberg to allow sufficient endurance for the long range medical evacuation to take place.

Concurrently, the crewman was transferred from the vessel he was on to tug boat /Smit Yallarm,/ which proceeded towards the coast at best speed.

One of the two forward deployed Black Hawks was used for the medical evacuation task, and successfully rendezvoused with the tug boat at 5.30 pm EDT, and evacuated the crewman to Bundaberg airport by 7.30 pm EDT. The ill crewman was then taken by Queensland Ambulance to the Bundaberg Hospital for assessment and treatment.

Chief of Joint Operations Command, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, said the Black Hawks and their crews deployed at short notice on the life-saving task.

“A life was saved today through the combined efforts, resources and cooperation of a number of organisations and agencies,” Lieutenant General Evans said.

“5th Aviation Regiment and in particular, the Black Hawk crews involved, can be very proud of their role in ensuring the successful aero medical evacuation of the sick crewman. We all wish him a full and speedy recovery”

For further details about the coordination and extent of the aero medical evacuation, please contact the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

ENDS

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