Crash survivor reunites with LifeFlight helicopter crew

TIFFANY Thompson was enjoying a leisurely Sunday motorbike ride in a forest near Gatton in March when she and another bike collided head on.

REUNION: Catching up at the Toowoomba LifeFlight base yesterday are (from left) Anthony Connolly, Tiffany Thompson - who was helped by LifeFlight last month - and Dave Hampshire. Picture: Bev Lacey

TIFFANY Thompson was enjoying a leisurely Sunday motorbike ride in a forest near Gatton in March when she and another bike collided head on.

The crash fractured her wrists, left her with multiple cuts to the bone on several parts of her body, and the impact on her head left her with memory loss.

She was treated by paramedics at the scene before being airlifted to the Princess Alexandra Hospital by the RACQ LifeFlight service.

Five weeks on, Ms Thompson has reunited with the aircrew behind her rescue.

"I wanted to come and give them a gift to say thank you, but I don't have enough to give them," she said.

"They did a lot for me that day and I can't repay them, so the least I can do is come and say thank you."

Ms Thompson had another close encounter with LifeFlight about 12 months ago when her neighbour Maddox Porter had his arm partially amputated when it was run over by a ride-on mower in April last year.

"They landed in our backyard to help them and we've been donating to them ever since, but you never think I'm going to need it," she said.

In a twist of fate, Maddox's dad Michael was riding just metres behind Tiffany when the crash occurred. Maddox's great uncle was also injured in the crash.

"I was about 30 seconds behind her... and assisted with first-aid until LifeFlight arrived," Mr Porter said.

"(LifeFlight) are great, they're true professionals. They're next level in terms of the medical care they offer."

Tiffany Thompson was airlifted after a motorbike crash and was at the LifeFlight base to meet members of the crew, including Anthony Connolly. LifeFlight. April 2019. Picture: Bev Lacey

LifeFlight co-pilot Anthony Connolly said it felt good to reunite with Ms Thompson yesterday and show her around the Toowoomba LifeFlight base.

"She's doing very well considering the nature of the incident," he said.

"We see a lot of trauma and carnage on a daily basis, so it's good to see the outcome of one of these particular jobs. Normally we don't see the outcome."

Originally published as Crash survivor reunites with LifeFlight helicopter crew