RACQ LifeFlight aircraft officer Scott Reeman says rescue of Rainbow Beach boy Tristan Sik stayed with him forever

RACQ LifeFlight aircraft officer Scott Reeman has revealed how the rescue of Rainbow Beach teen Tristan Sik who was knocked off his pushbike when he smashed into a car was a “terrible day for all”.

Scott Reeman has still vivid memories of the day he rushed to the scene of an injured teenage boy after he was knocked off his push bike in a car crash.

The RACQ LifeFlight aircraft officer may have attended hundreds of rescues in his two decades working for the service.

But he said some rescues, such as this one, stayed with him forever.

"It was very sad the day we did that job - it was a terrible day for everybody really," he said.

Tristan Sik was 13 when the crash happened at Rainbow Beach in July 2017.

The Rainbow Beach student suffered a broken collarbone, pelvis and lower left leg, fractures to the skull and right eye and bleeding and pressure on the brain.

Doctors questioned at the time whether he would survive his catastrophic injuries.

"On paper he probably shouldn't have survived," Mr Reeman said. "But he has learned to walk and talk and return to school."

Hollywood star Matt Damon throws his support behind Rainbow Beach student Tristan Sik.

Now 17 years old, Tristan is thriving and has launched his new Sik Ladz clothing line.

His mother Carolyn Elder said the quick response from emergency crews had saved her son's life.

RACQ LifeFlight helped 600 people in Queensland last month alone - 65 of those were rescued by the Sunshine Coast crew

The Coast team also completed 500 missions last financial year.

The RACQ LifeFlight helicopter team work tirelessly seven days a week, 24-hours a day to support the region, whenever and wherever they're called.

The Sunshine Coast Daily was given an exclusive tour of the Sunshine Coast hangar.

When the "bat phone" sounds, a crew of four health professionals spring into action.

Minutes later they're in the sky.

 

Mr Reeman, 50, of Mooloolaba, said he wouldn't change his job for anything.

The father of two has been at the Marcoola base in the 1990s, first as a volunteer rescue swimmer then as a full time crew member for 17 years.

 

"I originally became involved because of the input into the community, I was quite adventurous and in my mid-20s at the time," he said.

Mr Reeman said first responders often dealt with situations that can't be unseen.

"We go to many instances that you would call tragedies and they do stick with you," he said.

"We've just got to try and stay happy and healthy and realise that we're doing the best we can and wish for the best.

"Sometimes it's just unfortunate and not a perfect world."

There are six RACQ LifeFlight bases across the State in Brisbane, Bundaberg, Roma, Toowoomba, Mt Isa and on the Coast.

The important service relies on community support with 70 per cent of funding contributed by the State Government.

It leaves 30 per cent reliant on fundraising.

Renovations worth $130,000 at the base are now complete, thanks to the support of locals.

RACQ LifeFlight North Coast senior fundraising co-ordinator Mandy Hentschel. Picture: Natalie Wynne

However, LifeFlight was not immune to effects of COVID-19.

The organisation was hit hard last year like many others, losing half a million dollars in events and fundraising.

North Coast senior fundraising co-ordinator Mandy Hentschel said although it was a tough time the team managed to find new ways to reach sponsors.

"We did an online virtual run … called the Run to Rescue and that ended up raising about $110,000," she said.

"It was a crazy time but it gave us an opportunity to get back in contact with everyone on the ground that we hadn't had a chance to.

"We also ran a COVID emergency appeal which raised a half a million dollars."