Walter McLean donates cows to LifeFlight crew who saved his life

A Maranoa resident has relived the harrowing details of the day he almost lost his life were it not for the heroic actions of the Roma-based LifeFlight aeromedical team. Here’s how he has repaid them

Walter McLean donated two weaner steers through the Roma Saleyards which raised $2434 for the LifeFlight Roma base.

After suffering critical injuries in a quad bike crash on his family’s remote property, Maranoa resident Walter McLean is intimately familiar with the difference LifeFlight makes.

The 73-year-old grazier was on a quad bike on his 29,000ha property, Abbieglassie, when his life changed in an instant.

Mr McLean said the quad bike’s wheels hit a clump of dirt and the vehicle rolled, leaving him with 22 fractured ribs, a lacerated kidney, cracked neck vertebrae and a dislocated collarbone.

“If LifeFlight hadn’t of been about, I’d be fertiliser,” Mr McLean said.

The Surat Gas Aeromedical Service, based in Roma, flew to the property between Mitchell and Bollon, where they worked alongside local Queensland Ambulance Service paramedic, Miranda Lewis to stabilise Mr McLean.

They put the man in an induced coma so that he could be flown to Roma Hospital.

Mr McLean was later flown to the Princess Alexandra Hospital by the Toowoomba-base LifeFlight team, where he spent two weeks in the intensive care unit.

Walter McLean donated two weaner steers through the Roma Saleyards which raised $2434 for the LifeFlight Roma base.

Now recovered, Mr McLean said he was back out on the quad bike and mustering again.

“The quad bike is the best mode of transport to navigate all the mulga trees on the property,” he said.

“But since the accident I now use a ute for checking the dams.”

Mr McLean certainly hasn’t forgotten the valiant efforts of the paramedics and LifeFlight doctors, without whom he might not be alive today.

As a gesture of thanks, Mr McLean donated two weaner steers to LifeFlight through the Roma Saleyards, raising $2434 for the Roma Surat Gas Aeromedical Service at the Lee Family and Australian Country Choice LifeFlight Centre in Roma.

LifeFlight Roma regional advisory committee member, Sally McGilvray, thanked the McLeans and all other donors, for helping to make sure LifeFlight’s lifesaving services will continue to be available.

“Walter was a long way from a hospital and had life-threatening injuries and it’s thanks to the LifeFlight helicopter and crew he survived,” she said.

“Feel-good stories like Walter’s rescue make all our time and effort seems so worthwhile.”

Mr McLean’s wife, Christine McLean, also thanked the LifeFlight team.

“The LifeFlight team did such a sterling, professional job,” she said.

“Flying Walter in the helicopter instead of the delay by a slow two-and-a-half-hour road trip to Roma saved his life.”

Walter McLean donated two weaner steers through the Roma Saleyards which raised $2434 for the LifeFlight Roma base.

Originally published as Walter McLean donates cows to LifeFlight crew who saved his life