Chopper Blade Injury, Queensland
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Den Helder
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I hope he will recover and get back flying.
We had an incident a while back in our company when one of the blades of the B222 flaped down and hit a baggecart at about 1 meter above ground. The wind was about 50 kts and the helicopter was parked close to a building. Luckely the groundhandler who rolled up the cart to the aircraft narrowly escaped.
We had an incident a while back in our company when one of the blades of the B222 flaped down and hit a baggecart at about 1 meter above ground. The wind was about 50 kts and the helicopter was parked close to a building. Luckely the groundhandler who rolled up the cart to the aircraft narrowly escaped.
Join Date: Mar 2000
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Extract from Newscom.au report
A HELICOPTER pilot was left with critical head injuries after he walked into an overhead rotor blade on the Sunshine Coast yesterday.
Flight instructor Lester Chambers, 58, had just landed the Hughes 300 helicopter at the Sunshine Coast Airport at Mudjimba when the accident happened.
Intensive care paramedic Tony Smith said Mr Chambers received serious "pretty significant" head injuries, including a compound fracture of the skull.
Seconds before the accident, another employee reportedly saw Mr Chambers remove his helmet. The blades were believed to have been spinning at about 20 rotations a minute when Mr Chambers was struck.
Despite his horrific injuries, Mr Chambers was able to communicate with paramedics during his emergency flight to Brisbane.
By the time the Energex Rescue Helicopter arrived at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, the critically ill Mr Chambers had lost consciousness.
A hospital spokeswoman said Mr Chambers had undergone surgery and was in the intensive care unit last night.
Mr Chambers had just celebrated flying 11,000 hours and was a senior grade 1 flight instructor.
He had recently accepted a dream job and had been preparing to go overseas to work with the Australian Federal Police in the Solomon Islands.
Paramedics were on scene within three minutes. The Energex Community Rescue Helicopter is based nearby.
Mr Chambers's son was on his way from Perth.
Police Inspector Tony Lewis said it was likely the Civil Aviation Safety Authority would take charge of the investigation.
Chopper pilot floored by spinning rotor
05-10-2005
05-10-2005
A HELICOPTER pilot was left with critical head injuries after he walked into an overhead rotor blade on the Sunshine Coast yesterday.
Flight instructor Lester Chambers, 58, had just landed the Hughes 300 helicopter at the Sunshine Coast Airport at Mudjimba when the accident happened.
Intensive care paramedic Tony Smith said Mr Chambers received serious "pretty significant" head injuries, including a compound fracture of the skull.
Seconds before the accident, another employee reportedly saw Mr Chambers remove his helmet. The blades were believed to have been spinning at about 20 rotations a minute when Mr Chambers was struck.
Despite his horrific injuries, Mr Chambers was able to communicate with paramedics during his emergency flight to Brisbane.
By the time the Energex Rescue Helicopter arrived at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, the critically ill Mr Chambers had lost consciousness.
A hospital spokeswoman said Mr Chambers had undergone surgery and was in the intensive care unit last night.
Mr Chambers had just celebrated flying 11,000 hours and was a senior grade 1 flight instructor.
He had recently accepted a dream job and had been preparing to go overseas to work with the Australian Federal Police in the Solomon Islands.
Paramedics were on scene within three minutes. The Energex Community Rescue Helicopter is based nearby.
Mr Chambers's son was on his way from Perth.
Police Inspector Tony Lewis said it was likely the Civil Aviation Safety Authority would take charge of the investigation.
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Best wishes, Lester and family, for a speedy recovery.
Let's wrap things up with the Hindsight Police for now guys, accept the situation as a horrible accident, learn from it and wish him well.
Let's wrap things up with the Hindsight Police for now guys, accept the situation as a horrible accident, learn from it and wish him well.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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Just to clear the up the misconception that Lester walked away from the 300 with the blades spinning leaving it unattended and was complacent.
There was somebody at the controls, there was very little wind and he was struck well in from the tip.
This is a very sad event for all and a very unfortunate accident.
There was somebody at the controls, there was very little wind and he was struck well in from the tip.
This is a very sad event for all and a very unfortunate accident.
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Perth Weatern Australia
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Lester is recovering
Hi All
Lester continues to make a slow but steady recovery and although he has yet to recover consiousness he is showing some promising signs but has along way to go before he is out of the woods.
Once again thanks to all for their offers of support and good wishes to lester.
Lesters family
Lester continues to make a slow but steady recovery and although he has yet to recover consiousness he is showing some promising signs but has along way to go before he is out of the woods.
Once again thanks to all for their offers of support and good wishes to lester.
Lesters family
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Perth Weatern Australia
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Lester improving
Hi All .
Lesters condition is improving and will leave ICU tommorow starting to get some awareness back and able move fingers etc.Given extent of injury Drs happy with progress
brendon
Lesters condition is improving and will leave ICU tommorow starting to get some awareness back and able move fingers etc.Given extent of injury Drs happy with progress
brendon
Join Date: May 2005
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Thanks Brendon,
Great news, keep posting, there are a lot of Lester's "one talks" out there who are following this thread and are hoping for the best outcome.
If he is still in Brisbane next month I will try and catch up
Great news, keep posting, there are a lot of Lester's "one talks" out there who are following this thread and are hoping for the best outcome.
If he is still in Brisbane next month I will try and catch up
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Perth Weatern Australia
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Lester still in ICU
Hi all ,
Unfortunately Lester has been fighting an infection for the last few days and is back on the respirator and has lost some of the awareness he regained .The doctors are trying to pin down source of infection with out luck so far and trying differrent antibiotics to combat it.
will post as soon as he improves .
Brendon
Unfortunately Lester has been fighting an infection for the last few days and is back on the respirator and has lost some of the awareness he regained .The doctors are trying to pin down source of infection with out luck so far and trying differrent antibiotics to combat it.
will post as soon as he improves .
Brendon
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Perth Weatern Australia
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Lesters condition
Hi All,
Lester has unfortunately picked up a meningitis infection in his brain and was running very hi temps.He underwent an operation on his brain last night to remove an infected abcess and has come through OK although it will be some time before we know what the implications of this will be on his recovery.He remains under sedation whilst he undergoes further scans.
Thanks to his PNG One Talks for thier emails of support for Lester.
They can contact me at [email protected] if they wish to get further info.
Thanks again.
Brendon and Kent
Lester has unfortunately picked up a meningitis infection in his brain and was running very hi temps.He underwent an operation on his brain last night to remove an infected abcess and has come through OK although it will be some time before we know what the implications of this will be on his recovery.He remains under sedation whilst he undergoes further scans.
Thanks to his PNG One Talks for thier emails of support for Lester.
They can contact me at [email protected] if they wish to get further info.
Thanks again.
Brendon and Kent
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Perth Weatern Australia
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Hi All,
I am sad to report that Lester has suffered further damage from the infection which is now under control and the outlook in the long term for him is very grim although he is quite stable at the moment and will go to a ward shortly.
He is no longer responding to stimuli as he was previously and the doctors are very pessemistic at this time that he make any sort of recovery although they have not given up on him yet.
The above information is for the freinds of Lester and industry only and the Family does not wish it to be reproduced in the local media.
Thanks Brendon
I am sad to report that Lester has suffered further damage from the infection which is now under control and the outlook in the long term for him is very grim although he is quite stable at the moment and will go to a ward shortly.
He is no longer responding to stimuli as he was previously and the doctors are very pessemistic at this time that he make any sort of recovery although they have not given up on him yet.
The above information is for the freinds of Lester and industry only and the Family does not wish it to be reproduced in the local media.
Thanks Brendon
Last edited by Westaussielame; 21st Oct 2005 at 04:31.
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Brendon
I've been following this for the last couple of weeks.
My best wishes go to your dad and your family. It makes one realise how fickle working with machines of this nature can be.
Chin up mate & hope your old man fights the good fight
I've been following this for the last couple of weeks.
My best wishes go to your dad and your family. It makes one realise how fickle working with machines of this nature can be.
Chin up mate & hope your old man fights the good fight
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Hi All,
Lesters condition continues to be stable but he is still unresponsive to any stimuli for all intents and purposes.He appears to be over the worst of the infection but shows no signs of improvement.
Thanks to all for their continued support of Lester.
Brendon
Lesters condition continues to be stable but he is still unresponsive to any stimuli for all intents and purposes.He appears to be over the worst of the infection but shows no signs of improvement.
Thanks to all for their continued support of Lester.
Brendon
Join Date: Jun 2005
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lester to to leave hospital soon.
Hi All,
Lesters family had a meeting with the medical team treating him today and were advised that he will be transferred to a nursing home in the near future.
Unfortunately Lesters condition is now worse than originally thought due to a stroke that occured in his brain stem most likely whilst he was fighting the infection he suffered.
This has very serious implications for his recovery (if any) and the most likely outcome is he will die of complications due to his continued time spent in a coma like condition.
We hope to bring Lester back to Western Australia in the near future to be with his family. We will advise when this is about to occur so his Queensland based coleagues and friends can say goodbye if they wish.
Brendon
Lesters family had a meeting with the medical team treating him today and were advised that he will be transferred to a nursing home in the near future.
Unfortunately Lesters condition is now worse than originally thought due to a stroke that occured in his brain stem most likely whilst he was fighting the infection he suffered.
This has very serious implications for his recovery (if any) and the most likely outcome is he will die of complications due to his continued time spent in a coma like condition.
We hope to bring Lester back to Western Australia in the near future to be with his family. We will advise when this is about to occur so his Queensland based coleagues and friends can say goodbye if they wish.
Brendon
Last edited by Westaussielame; 10th Nov 2005 at 10:39.
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Brendon,
I don't know you or your dad, but please allow me to extend my sympathy and best wishes for you and yours.
I am sure I speak for all those out there who have been following your dad's progress with interest but who, because they don't know you or your family, have been reluctant to post.
Good luck,
Conway Bown
I don't know you or your dad, but please allow me to extend my sympathy and best wishes for you and yours.
I am sure I speak for all those out there who have been following your dad's progress with interest but who, because they don't know you or your family, have been reluctant to post.
Good luck,
Conway Bown