One for Sasless, chook to the rescue
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,957
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One for Sasless, chook to the rescue
The Australian, 15th June 2009
Craig O'Callaghan's Simpson Desert rescue
June 15, 2009
Article from: Northern Territory News
A MAN motorbiking through a Northern Territory desert who crashed in the middle of nowhere has miraculously been rescued - by a passing Chinook helicopter.
Craig O'Callaghan, 46, suffered spinal injuries and was able to move only his fingers after coming off his motorcycle during a trek across the Simpson Desert, the Northern Territory News reports.
He had been travelling with a group of friends along the French Line - a rough track that skirts along the southern border of the Territory.
Mr O'Callaghan, of Yarrawonga in Victoria, came off at Poeppels Corner - where the dry and dusty borders of the Territory, Queensland and South Australia meet.
The group activated an EPIRB.
The desperate signal was picked up about 1500km away, in Canberra, by Australian Search and Rescue.
They first alerted South Australian police.
But their closest station is on the far side of the desert at Oodnadatta, several hundred kilometres away, so they were unable to assist due to the remote location.
Birdsville Police Station in far southwest Queensland was their next port of call and officer-in-charge Senior Constable Neale McShane sprang into action.
By an incredible stroke of luck, an army Chinook was in town refuelling on the way from Normanton to Longreach.
Sen-Constable McShane spoke to their commander who then got the green light from his superiors to rescue the injured biker.
"I knew we needed a helicopter. It would have taken 12 to 14 hours to drive there, and when you're talking spinal injuries that's a very long drive," he said.
"I don't know what the bloke thought when this huge Chinook flew in."
June 15, 2009
Article from: Northern Territory News
A MAN motorbiking through a Northern Territory desert who crashed in the middle of nowhere has miraculously been rescued - by a passing Chinook helicopter.
Craig O'Callaghan, 46, suffered spinal injuries and was able to move only his fingers after coming off his motorcycle during a trek across the Simpson Desert, the Northern Territory News reports.
He had been travelling with a group of friends along the French Line - a rough track that skirts along the southern border of the Territory.
Mr O'Callaghan, of Yarrawonga in Victoria, came off at Poeppels Corner - where the dry and dusty borders of the Territory, Queensland and South Australia meet.
The group activated an EPIRB.
The desperate signal was picked up about 1500km away, in Canberra, by Australian Search and Rescue.
They first alerted South Australian police.
But their closest station is on the far side of the desert at Oodnadatta, several hundred kilometres away, so they were unable to assist due to the remote location.
Birdsville Police Station in far southwest Queensland was their next port of call and officer-in-charge Senior Constable Neale McShane sprang into action.
By an incredible stroke of luck, an army Chinook was in town refuelling on the way from Normanton to Longreach.
Sen-Constable McShane spoke to their commander who then got the green light from his superiors to rescue the injured biker.
"I knew we needed a helicopter. It would have taken 12 to 14 hours to drive there, and when you're talking spinal injuries that's a very long drive," he said.
"I don't know what the bloke thought when this huge Chinook flew in."
Last edited by Senior Pilot; 18th Jun 2009 at 10:53. Reason: Include quote
????????
They will be finding red dirt in that Chinook for the next year, I would love to have seen the landing and the red dirt that was kicked up.
Great story and well done the Chinook crew.
Great story and well done the Chinook crew.
Is this not what helicopter folk are all about?
Being able and willing to help others in time of peril.....makes helicopter flying a bit different than flying airplanes.
I bet they will be calling the victim "Red" from now on after that "Dust Off"!
Being able and willing to help others in time of peril.....makes helicopter flying a bit different than flying airplanes.
I bet they will be calling the victim "Red" from now on after that "Dust Off"!
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Germany
Age: 76
Posts: 1,561
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Now, now...
I too have done the odd air ambulance flight with an airplane but a helicopter does have that beat for getting right to the scene of the accident, yes.
Chuks,
It would appear the reports of your demise were premature!
It would appear the reports of your demise were premature!
