LifeFlight rescues at a record high in Queensland with car accidents more than doubling

Incredible new data has revealed just how busy the LifeFlight rescue service has been in the past year, particularly as road crashes continue to rise. VIDEO, PICS

LifeFlight rescues are at a record high in Queensland with incidents related to car accidents more than doubling, laying bare the increasing calamity on the states roads.

According to the report released this week, helicopter crews completed more than 3000 missions, with 8177 rescues resulting in a 11 per cent rise compared to the last financial year.

Notably, tasks associated with motor vehicle accidents increased by 156 per cent to 710 incidents, laying bare the concerning surge in car crashes on the states roads.

LifeFlight Chief Operating Officer Lee Schofield said rescue crews helped an average of 157 patients per week – the equivalent of one every hour.

“The numbers keep rising each year which shows how crucial LifeFlight’s aeromedical service is, reaching far and wide across our state, and helping thousands of people,” Mr Schofield said.

The top four LifeFlight missions were cardiac, motor vehicle accidents, animal-related and search and rescues. Picture: Supplied

“This next financial year we’ll be able to do even more with five additional AW139 helicopters added to our fleet and new expanded bases in Mount Isa and the Sunshine Coast.”
The Queensland non-for-profit organisation’s fleet of four air ambulance jets and nine rotary wing aircraft operate from eight bases across the state and Singapore, servicing an area of 1.85 million square kilometres 24 hours a day.

Crews aboard the rotary aircraft aided 5,313 people alone which saw a 131 per cent increase on the previous year.

“Our crews are called any day, anytime, and are always ready to spring into action, even in precarious situations, all at no cost to the patient,” Mr Schofield said.

A critical injured man being transported from Bali on a LifeFlight jet. Picture: Supplied

Choppers spent more than 5000 hours in the air, with the Toowoomba crews clocking the most hours across the fleet with 1164 hours.

LifeFlight conducted many dramatic rescues in 2023, including rescuing two men floating in the ocean off the Sunshine Coast when their light aeroplane crashed and a jet crew evacuating two Australians who succumbed injuries due to turbulence on a Singapore Airlines flight in May.

However, Medical Director Dr Jeff Hooper said the organisation’s work is important particularly to the hundreds of thousands of people living in regional and remote communities throughout Queensland.

“Our crews deal with extremely challenging conditions, whether that is stabilising a patient mid-air, winching down a paramedic to the side of a cliff face, or rescuing people stranded in the ocean,” Dr Hooper said.

The eight Queensland bases are located in Mount Isa, Townsville, Bundaberg, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Roma and Brisbane. Picture: Supplied

“Our critical care doctors, nurses and paramedics are a mobile intensive care team able to provide rapid aeromedical intervention, which often is the difference between life and death.”

The organisation poured $95 million into the state economy through its profit-for-purpose activities and the operation of the eight Queensland bases, training academy, foundation and engineering facilities.

Now it is set to become a major tenant when the new Queensland Regional Aeromedical Base is completed in 2026, making Brisbane Airport the proud new home.

Originally published as LifeFlight rescues at a record high in Queensland with car accidents more than doubling