Medics rush to injured

Royal Australian Navy members attached to Darwin’s NORCOM played a vital role in the recent evacuation of victims of the Kuta Beach, Bali terrorist bombing attack.

Among them was LCDR David Lassam, NORCOM’s Headquarters Senior Health Officer/Operations.

He found himself on the tarmac at Darwin Airport awaiting the arrival of the RAAF’s C130’s and their cargoes of dead and injured, most of them Australians.

His job was to receive them and smoothly hand them from Defence control to civilian authorities and watch them loaded into ambulances for transport to Darwin Hospital.

“He worked long hours on the job,” Navy spokesman in NORCOM, CAPT Bill Overton told Navy News.

“He alternated with MAJ Shaun Fletcher who is Health Officer/Plans for NORCOM,” he said.

CAPT Overton, himself, was involved in the emergency acting as a link person between the ADF and the Northern Territory Government.

A fleet of Hercules transports were used initially to fly into Denpasar in Bali to collect the seriously injured. One victim died during flight.

Navy SNCHAP Richard Thompson has also flown to Bali to assist in counselling.

Once the 66 injured were seen by staff at Darwin Hospital, they were flown by the Hercules to burns and other specialist units in hospitals in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

In his letter to CDF General Cosgrove Defence Minister Robert Hill said:

“I am writing to express the Government’s gratitude — and I am sure that of the entire nation for the magnificent support Defence has provided in response to the tragic bombings in Bali.

“We have come to expect a very high level of professionalism from the ADF in everything it does but the speed and effectiveness with which it dispatched aircraft and medical teams to Bali to treat the survivors and bring them back to Australia was outstanding. The ADF has a long history of coming to the assistance of the Australian people at times of national emergency and the current operation is very much part of that proud tradition. The calm professionalism with which the ADF medical personnel and aircrews have gone about their work in such harrowing circumstrances has no doubt saved many lives. I am sure it has also been great comfort to the victims of this appalling attack and their families and friends.

“Please pass on my thanks and those of the Government to all personnel involved.”

• By Graham Davis

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