Man saved from severe burns on remote Birdsville Track, thanks to mate’s first aid and Royal Flying Doctor Service rescue

GEOFF suffered burns to 80 per cent of his body when he fell into a hot spring in remote South Australia. Hours away from proper help, his best mate and the RFDS managed to save his life in an incredible story of survival.

IT was three hours north of Marree on the Birdsville Track, a year ago when the lives of Nigel Hardy and Geoff Pinch changed forever.

The great mates of 20 years had just pulled off the road on the edge of the Simpson Desert for a toilet stop when Geoff wandered off to check some hot springs that reach temperatures of more than 90C.

The lads are both renowned practical jokers and when Nigel heard his buddy scream, he assumed he was acting the idiot.

“And then I saw the look on his face with these staring eyes as big as dinner plates,” Nigel says, shaking as he relives the moment.

“He’d fallen in and he was looking at me like he knew he was going to die.’’

Geoff, 50, from Flagstaff Hill, weighs about 100kg but with the adrenalin flowing, Nigel, 40 from Warradale, dragged him out in one go.

“I stood him up and it was already pretty horrific … skin was just dropping off him…it was like a poached egg … peeling away,” he adds. “I ripped his clothes off because we knew we had little time to do that. Then I got a swag and laid him on that and poured on bags of ice and emptied the water from our tank.”

Nigel Hardy saved his friend of 20 years, Geoff Pinch, after he fell into a hot spring on the Birdsville Track. Picture: AAP / Emma Brasier

Grabbing a map, Nigel checked for the closest place to drive, which was Mungerannie station and pub. With no radio or phone contact, things were desperate and then he remembered they had an EPIRB, an emergency signalling beacon.

In all their trips to the Outback, it was the first time they’d carried one.

“I’m dyslexic and when I’m stressed, my reading’s no good,” Nigel says. “Luckily, Geoff was still conscious then and talked me through how to get it working.”

With Mungerannie an hour away, they set off on the terrifying journey with Geoff in agony the entire time. The EPIRB signal was received at Australian Rescue co-ordination Centre in Canberra, which tracked the signal moving towards Mungerannie and alerted owners Phil and Deb to be prepared – for what they didn’t know.

“I drove into the old homestead honking the horn,” Nigel recalls. “Phil yanked open the door and was shocked by the sight of Geoff. Phil’s a fair size and he just picked him up and said: ‘We’re getting you into the shower, mate’.

The remote Birdsville Track in northeastern South Australia.

Deb alerted Royal Flying Doctors and luckily a crew was in the area and landed within an hour. With burns to 80 per cent of his body, Geoff showed an iron will to live.

“We had no real painkillers and I’ve never heard anyone scream like that,” Nigel says.

“That sort of thing will never go away. No disrespect to anyone’s been in a war but it’s the kind of agony I imagine someone who’s been in a trench with a bullet in their gut. Being with a mate. You just ride it out together.”

The RFDS team of six worked for hours to stabilise Geoff, and were joined by an RFDS ambulance carrying desperately needed pain relief.

More than a dozen locals came to see if they could help and they were joined by a Medstar team that worked another three hours before finally lifting off with Geoff at 6pm.

Nigel says as soon as the plane disappeared, he was “a mess”.

“Phil and Deb looked after me like my mum and dad would,” he says. “We had tea together but then they gave me that space I needed.’’

The RFDS staff checked in with him every few hours over the next few days to make sure he was all right, and for three weeks, he got a daily call.

“Their professionalism is unbelievable,’’ he says. “That’s what saved Geoff and his will to live which was so strong.’’

Geoff’s wife Julie was told to expect the worst but after five months in the RAH burns unit, and a recovery that amazed doctors, he’s walking again and back at work.

Nigel has been nominated for a Pride of Australia award by Channel 7 newsreaders Jane Doyle and John Riddell.

Channel 7 newsreaders Jane Doyle and John Riddell nominated Nigel Hardy for a Pride of Australia award. Picture: Matt Turner

The story was first featured on the station last year in a report by Jessica Adamson.

Jane has spent time in the Birdsville track region and has seen how hot the Artesian spring waters can be.

“This story moves me to the core and what makes me cry is that nature of the Australian spirit,’’ Jane says.

“That spirit of a mate doing all he can to save a mate and station owners dropping all to go and help.”

Her co-host agrees. “This is such a great mateship story and you just shake your head about how many things went right to get a happy ending,” John says.

“I love the community spirit of the outback … and the Flying Doctor Service … what an incredible story they are.”

News Corp has partnered with Australia Post and Seven News to stage the 2018 Pride of Australia Awards.

Now in its 14th year, the award unearths and honours ordinary Australians who do extraordinary things.

Nominations are made at prideofaustralia.com.au