Brave FNQ rangers celebrated for saving baby girl’s life

Rangers who saved a baby girl’s life at one of the most remote beaches in the country have been acknowledged by Queensland Ambulance Service.

Awardees Rangers Frankie Cook and Trevor Nona with family and colleagues at ceremony at Bamaga. Picture: NPARC

Rangers who saved a baby girl’s life at one of the most remote beaches in the country have been acknowledged by Queensland Ambulance Service.

In January paramedics received a call from Somerset Bay, 760kms north of Cairns, after a one-year-old was found unresponsive in the water.

But before the Rescue 700 helicopter arrived from Horn Island or a QAS unit made it to the beach from Bamaga Trevor Nona and Frankie Cook leapt into action.

The Apudthama Indigenous ranger and Ipima Ikaya Aboriginal Corporation senior ranger, both trained in CPR, gave compressions for eight to ten minutes until the child began to cough and show signs of consciousness.

Rangers Frankie Cook and Trevor Nona return to Somerset Bay with senior QAS staff last week. Picture: NPARC

Meanwhile, QAS paramedic Karl Visser was responding with lights and sirens from the Bamaga Ambulance Station, which is located close to an hour away from Somerset Bay.

Rescue 700 was also proceeding by air from Horn Island with QAS Flight Critical Care Paramedic Gerard O’Brien on board.

The helicopter later landed on the beach and the girl was flown to Thursday Island Hospital.

Without the range’s efforts she almost certainly would have died, QAS Bamaga officer in charge Adam Marston said.

“Their actions undoubtedly saved her life,” he said.

“This case highlights the need for bystanders to instigate CPR as soon as possible prior to the ambulance arriving,”

Senior Ranger Frankie Cook receives a certificate of appreciation from QAS Far Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Brina Keating. Picture: NPARC

QAS Far Northern Region Assistant Commissioner Brina Keating and QAS Deputy Commissioner North, Rural and Remote Kari Arbouin travelled into Bamaga to personally present the rangers with certificates of appreciation for their valiant efforts to save this young life.

“When tragedy strikes, it is crucial that members in our community know what to do in emergencies,” Assistant Commissioner Keating said.

“We are extremely proud to present Rangers Frankie Cook and Trevor Nona these certificates, and they should also feel a deep sense of pride knowing their early and skilled intervention has resulted in an incredible outcome for this young child and her family.”

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Originally published as Brave FNQ rangers celebrated for saving baby girl’s life