LifeFlight praised after Chinchilla baby flown to Queensland Children’s Hospital

LifeFlight has revealed its night vision technology is becoming more and more crucial in rescue operations with 32 per cent of airlifts in the first quarter of this year taking place at night.

A Chinchilla mother has praised LifeFlight’s night vision technology after it was vital in saving her son's life during a late night medical emergency.

LifeFlight data released this week showed 32 per cent of airlifts in the year’s first quarter took place at night up from 30 per cent in 2024 and night vision technology was used in majority of the rescues.

Harvey in the LifeFlight helicopter

Last year Chinchilla Hospital nurse Xanthe Dewar was camping at Goomburra in the Southern Downs region with her husband Ben and their twin four-month-old boys Harvey and Patrick, when Harvey woke up respiratory problems, a rash on his right leg and a swollen fontanelle.

Fearing he may have meningococcal the family rushed to Warwick Hospital where Harvey was flown to Queensland Children’s Hospital.

“When the doctor thought it might be meningococcal, my heart sank,” Ms Dewar said in a statement.

“I was holding it together but when the doctor confirmed my fear it was an awful feeling, and I turned to my husband and burst into tears.”

Half an hour later, the helicopter touched down at the QCH helipad.

“The flight there was incredible,” she said.

“I felt comfortable and confident from the minute they walked in.

“Thankfully, our little man didn’t have a life-threatening disease and was treated for a viral infection and thanks to LifeFlight, we were able to get to Queensland Children’s Hospital quickly to rule out meningococcal.”

LifeFlight crews with night vision

LifeFlight Head of Flying Operations, Jeremy Ovens, said night vision technology was lifesaving for Harvey and thousands of other patients.

“You could have someone stranded on the edge of a cliff at night, and that rescue just wouldn’t be possible without using night vision goggles,” he said.

“There are many landing areas where there is a lack of light at night, such as school sports ovals or paddocks, so the goggles enable us to execute landings safely.

“We can also see obstacles such as trees and power poles, which without the goggles would be impossible because it’s pitch black.

“We have the best rescue helicopters in the world – the AW139 – and the goggles give us the ability to deploy whenever we are needed, no matter the time.”

Originally published as LifeFlight praised after Chinchilla baby flown to Queensland Children’s Hospital