One of the hardest things to do is see your child be unwell or get injured. You feel helpless. Thankfully there is incredible life saving care if you ever need it in those scary times.
In June, Rachel and her husband Jeremy needed urgent care for their son Ollie. Ollie was unwell in hospital and confirmed to be in DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis).
DKA is a serious, potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes and he needed to be airlifted from the Blackwater Hospital to the Rockhampton Hospital Emergency Department immediately.
The CapRescue team arrived within 40 minutes and airlifted Ollie and Rachel to Rockhampton where he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. They were in the pediatric ward for a week until Ollie’s levels stabilised and they navigated what his life would now be like.
“The CapRescue chopper crew that arrived were amazing. Their care was outstanding, from their arrival to saying goodbye as they delivered us to the Rockhampton Hospital ED, their attention to Ollie was incredible,” Rachel said.
“They made Ollie, and I feel safe and calm as we tried to digest the shock of what was happening. The saying ‘not all Superheroes wear capes’ is so true- the CapRescue crew truly are Superheroes.
“No words can describe how grateful we are to the crew for transporting Ollie and I safely and quickly to Rockhampton Hospital so that Ollie could get the urgent care he needed.”
Rachel and her husband Jeremy already knew how crucial CapRescue was for their region. Both work for Yancoal’s Yarrabee Coal mine who are a long-standing Lift-Off partner of CapRescue.
They had seen and heard just how life-saving the service is before they needed it themselves.
Yarrabee’s ongoing contributions play a direct role in saving lives across Central Queensland and particularly in Blackwater, where their workforce and families live, work and travel every day. Their support helps cover the significant costs associated with running a 24/7 aeromedical service, including training, equipment, fuel and maintenance.
“Yarrabee’s backing isn’t just generous, it’s local, and it’s lifesaving. We are so pleased we could be there when Ollie, Rachel and Jeremy needed us most and that he has made a full recovery,” said a CapRescue spokesperson.
CapRescue soared at this year’s Queensland Mining Industry Health and Safety (QMIHS) Conference, with $39,000 raised by mining industry professionals who gathered for the event on the Gold Coast from across the country.
Raffle tickets, along with live and silent auction items from generous businesses and individuals, helped raise the funds for the service’s life-saving missions, including the operation of its dedicated helicopter, Rescue300.
Kim Walters, Communications and Engagement Officer at CapRescue, said the response was overwhelming.
“We didn’t expect to raise almost $40,000. It shows how much emergency services like ours are valued in this industry, and we’re so grateful to everyone who contributed.
“Ongoing support from the mining sector ensures CapRescue can continue providing aeromedical emergency assistance — because a big region needs a fast response.”
