Hamilton island (the destination) has a fully serviceable airport with most aids.
Mackay (departure point) has a fully servicable airport with most aids.
Why does a single engine night VFR 407 embark on a night flight over water to pick up a person with a broken leg. This was not a rescue it was a transfer flight. surely an aeroplane would have been the logical answer for the task.
It's no wonder that medical staff are becoming more reticent about boarding helicopters with the ammount of single engine helicopter night flights that have ended in fatalities in Australia.
We have a terrible history in this regard.
My sincere condolences to the families of the young pilot and the keen young crewmen who are no longer with us.
RIP