Winch Back In Operation

THE Tamworth based Westpac Rescue Helicopter will resume winching operations, following the NSW Governmnent’s $151.2 million state wide helicopter retrieval network investment.

Winching operations were suspended in 2013 on the recommendation of an independent review into aeromedical operations which raised concerns around the safety of crews and patients.

Richard Jones, chief executive officer of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service said the winch would be invaluable in inaccessible terrain.

“The most common scenarios for winching in the New England North West are expected to be accidents involving motor vehicles in inaccessible areas or mountain adventure sports like bushwalking, mountain biking, horse riding or para and hang gliding,” said Mr Jones.

“The winch offers 280 feet of usable length and can lift around 250kg; the winch can be used day and night, with the assistance of night vision goggles,” he said.

“The winch can be used to insert a NSW Ambulance helicopter paramedic and Local Health District doctor directly in to inaccessible locations,” he said.

“Very simply, it helps us get directly to patients without needing to land the helicopter,” he said.

“The medical team can carry vital life-saving equipment like a ventilator or defibrillator and the winch can also be used to extricate critical patients,” he said.

“Once on-board the helicopter, the patient’s medical treatment continues in-flight back to hospital,” he said.

“We are ever grateful for the support we receive from our communities and we’re proud that our Service continues to grow stronger, while ensuring nobody pays to be assisted,” Richard Jones said.