UK Dr Matthew Mitchard undergoes TSV LifeFlight training
A London doctor has travelled across the globe to start an exciting role on board Air Ambulance helicopters. Read about his intensive week of training.
Townsville
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A British doctor has been submerged in a simulated helicopter and left dangling from a cable in the sky as he completes his training before working on board Air Ambulance jets and helicopters.
Dr Matthew Mitchard completed his studies and medical training in London but after his colleagues recommended a role at LifeFlight Australia he decided to take his career across the world to go all in on a new challenge.
“They said they had an amazing time here and did some really awesome work,” Dr Mitchard said.
“The winch operations, HUET (Helicopter Underwater Escape Training) and a lot of other stuff you don’t get to do in normal medical in a normal hospital are all great add-ons for me.”
Dr Mitchard is joined by three fellow Townsville-based retrieval registrars, Christer Ny, Karin Seterhed and Yazmin Symons who underwent a week of intensive training to prepare them for multiple worst case scenarios including a multi-casualty car crash or a boating disaster.
One of which is HUET, which prepares the doctors for the event of a helicopter crash into the water, and provides them with the necessary skills to escape the aircraft.
LifeFlight HUET manager Mick Dowling said that the occupants are put into a replicated helicopter and then submerged underwater.
“Worldwide figures tell us that when an aircraft or helicopter goes into the water, it’s going to rotate over because it’s top heavy,” Mr Dowling said.
“The simulator allows us to teach them the skills to stay oriented, and once they have adopted those skills, they will have no problems finding exits.”
The next step in their training took them into the air as they underwent winching exercises, simulating situations where the doctors need to access hard to reach areas and administer life saving care to patients.
LifeFlight aircrew officer Brett Hansen said the new critical care doctors are taken through winching individually before moving onto pairs and the use of a stretcher.
“As a rescue organisation, winching is probably the most dangerous thing we do and it’s pretty crucial to how we operate,” Mr Hansen said.
“When operating in a confined area that we can’t land in, it’s crucial to have those skills.”
Dr Mitchard is one of 26 doctors to head to their new bases across Queensland.
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Originally published as UK Dr Matthew Mitchard undergoes TSV LifeFlight training
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