Babcock Australasia (Babcock) has officially welcomed the second ‘dragonfly’ emergency helicopter that will complete the fleet of the new Lagaw Kuyup (Island Helicopter) Rescue Service in the Torres Strait.
The state-of-the-art Leonardo AW 139 aircraft is one of two helicopters that will fly under the Lagaw Kuyup banner, strengthening medical services throughout the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area, and solidifying the strategic partnership between Babcock, Queensland Health and the local community.
The aircraft can fly faster and further than the existing fleet, and comes fitted with enhanced medical, retrieval, and search and rescue equipment for a more agile response to the unique emergencies that arise in the region.
It will enter service immediately, joining its ‘twin’ aircraft, which features the same eye-catching dragonfly livery and began operations last month.
Aerial services are an essential part of medical response in indigenous communities throughout the Torres Strait, to fly patients from the 17 primary health care centres on the islands to the region’s main hospital on Thursday Island.
Quotes attributable to Babcock Australasia Managing Director of Aviation & Critical Services Duncan Milne.
“We are immensely proud to be delivering this service to the local community of the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area in partnership with Queensland Health, Queensland Ambulance Service and Retrieval Services Queensland, in what will be a life changing service for those who find themselves in need of emergency medical assistance.”
“Communities as remote as Ugar and Erub will now benefit from direct transfers to Thursday Island Hospital to receive medical care.”
Quotes attributable to Executive Director, Retrieval Services Queensland, Queensland Ambulance Service, Dr Mark Elcock.
“We are incredibly excited to have both new AW 139 aircraft operational in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula region, supporting transfers of patients and delivery of emergency health care, as well as bolstering search and rescue capability in the region.”
“The Lagaw Kuyup Rescue Service will be staffed around-the-clock by specially trained doctors and paramedics from the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service and Queensland Ambulance Service, ensuring equitable access to specialist care 24 hours a day, seven days a week in one of Queensland’s most remote and isolated areas.”