Spotlights and torches shone into eyes of chopper crew

THE lives of AGL Action Rescue Helicopter crew members have been placed in jeopardy while performing a rescue on Fraser Island.

THE lives of AGL Action Rescue Helicopter crew members have been placed in jeopardy while performing a rescue on Fraser Island.

The chopper was attempting to land near Orchid Beach on Tuesday night to assist a man with severe cuts to his arm.

While its crew were preparing to land, holiday revellers in four-wheel drives drove in the direction of the aircraft and began shining spotlights and torches into the eyes of the pilot and his crew.

Rescue helicopter pilot Peter Potroz said he flashed the helicopter's spotlight in the hope the beachgoers would stop but they persisted.

"It made the landing difficult and more timely than usual but we remained calm and concentrated on the task at hand," he said.

Rescue helicopter chief executive officer David Donaldson said the incident was reported to police.

"The outcomes of (Tuesday) night's incident could have been catastrophic for all," he said.

The patient was airlifted to Bundaberg in a stable condition.

A rescue helicopter spokeswoman said in 16 days, the rescue helicopter crew had treated 17 patients during 14 missions.

"We've flown more than 22 hours for these jobs since Christmas day at a total cost of more than $100,000," she said.