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PAT
ON THE BACK: Nearly two years after his rescue Craig
Chitty (below), has publicly thanked his rescuers LEUT Andrew
McCole and PO Mark Flowerdew (above).
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By
Cristy Symington
Volume 49, No. 21, November 16, 2006
A miner trapped under a fallen branch near Kalgoorlie, Western
Australia two years ago has mostly recovered from his injuries,
and would like to thank his Navy rescuers.
The accident left Craig Chitty suffering from severe fractures
to his lower left leg, fractures to the L3, L4 and L5 vertebrae
in his spine and in desperate need of medical attention.
In a stroke of luck, Seahawk Tiger 77 was in the vicinity and
could land in the remote area to rescue Mr Chitty and ferry him
to Kalgoorlie where an ambulance was waiting.
“I can’t express my gratitude in grand enough words,
as to how myself and my family appreciate your efforts on that
day,” he said in a recent letter to Navy News.
“Given the severity of my spinal injuries, it is highly likely
that I would have lost the use of my legs if I had to be driven
back along the rough track to the mine site.
“As it stands, my back was repaired, and I should have no
long-term problems with my spine.
“My leg hasn’t recovered quite as well, and a bone infection
has hindered its progress.”
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) was alerted when the accident
happened, but its fixed wing aircraft could only land an airstrip.
The closest strip was 60km away at the Emily Ann mine (200km south
of Kalgoorlie) – the journey to get there over rugged, unmade
roads may have increased the severity of the injuries.
In a lucky coincidence that afternoon two years ago, three Seahawks
from 816 Squadron happened to land in Kalgoorlie on their way
home to Nowra.
Dr Rob Visser, a doctor with the RFDS based in Kalgoorlie, appealed
for their help with a medivac.
After getting the go ahead from Maritime Headquarters, Tiger 77
was selected as the rescue aircraft.
Mr Chitty was loaded into the helicopter and flown to Kalgoorlie
where he was met by an ambulance.
“I have often said to people that being hit by that branch
was the only bad thing that happened that day,” Mr Chitty
said.
“Everything that occurred afterwards went like it was scripted,
with the helicopters arriving just at the right time, and being
able to land.”
The use of the Navy helicopter enabled the RFDS aircraft to fly
in another direction to save the life of a road accident victim.
“I would like to extend a massive thank you to Lieutenants
Andrew McCole and Andrew Rohrsheim, and PO Mark Flowerdew,”
he said.
“It has taken a while to send a thank you, and I apologise
for this.
“As I said before, it’s very hard to actually find the
right words to show just how grateful I am.”
He was also pleased to see that the Sikorsky Corporation had given
an award to his rescuers.
