RACQ LifeFlight recorded a large increase in demand for helicopter services in the 2023-24 year compared with the previous 12 months.
According to data released this week, LifeFlight helicopters assisted 5313 people for the year, which represents a 131% leap in demand, and flew a total of 5159 hours, up 25%
The data also shows that crews on the nine helicopters LifeFlight operates flew 3378 missions, including responding to 150 motor vehicle accidents and 89 SAR missions.
The rotary figures were part of a general increase in demand for all LifeFlight services over the 2023-24 year, which also included a jump of 79% in the number of people helped by jets operating from the Brisbane and Townsville bases.
LifeFlight Chief Operating Officer Lee Schofield, said rescue crews of both jets and rotaries helped an average of 157 patients per week – the equivalent of one every 64 minutes.
“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,” said Schofield.
“This past financial year our crews have saved people from challenging situations on land, sea and even on the side of mountains.
“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.
“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.”
Helicopter tasking for the 2023-24 year included:
- the Sunshine Coast crew rescuing two men floating in the ocean after their light plane ditched into the sea
- the Bundaberg crew flying out to a cruise ship 80 nm off the coast to help and airlift an elderly man who fell and struck his head
- The Bundaberg crew also flying out to K’gari (Fraser Island) four times in one week to airlift patients with marine stings.
LifeFlight operates a fleet of rescue helicopters including five AW139s, three Bell 412s and a BK117. Two other AW139s are contracted to a gas consortium.
The fleet contributes to the Queensland Emergency Helicopter Network via a fully-costed agreement with the QLD Government, which came into effect April 2024.