Why you see LifeFlight chopper so regularly in Toowoomba

HUNDREDS of people were airlifted by RACQ LifeFlight from the Toowoomba region last financial year.

A LifeFlight Helicopter lands in Toowoomba at the rescue helicopter service's new base. LifeFlight Generic. Picture: Tobi Loftus

HUNDREDS of people were airlifted by RACQ LifeFlight from the Toowoomba region last financial year.

Between July 2018 and June 2019 Toowoomba was LifeFlight's busiest base.

Crews flew 643 critical missions from the base, valued at more than $8 million, at no cost to patients.

Medical illnesses and infections were 84 of those cases, while motor vehicle and motorcycle accidents, which included quad bike accidents, needed 76 airlifts.

Cardiac conditions needed for 46 airlifts, while respiratory conditions had for 41 airlifts and falls, from the elderly, bushwalking, climbing, medical and other resulted in 37 airlifts.

LifeFlight's Toowoomba and Roma-based Surat Gas Aeromedical Service (SGAS) crews flew 74 critical missions.

LifeFlight director of aeromedical services Brian Guthrie said the rescue crews delivered world class medical care, in some of the most remote and inaccessible parts of Queensland.

"Our community helicopters spent more than 4630 hours performing missions across the state, in the 2018-2019 financial year," he said.

"These figures show demand is growing for LifeFlight's critical services."

"Our highly trained aeromedical crews are ready to continue providing lifesaving care to seriously ill and injured patients, around the clock."

Across Queensland LifeFlight helped about 6000 people in the last financial year.

Since the organisation's first airlift, in 1979, about 56,000 patients have been rescued.

Originally published as Why you see LifeFlight chopper so regularly in Toowoomba