At around 8.30 last night (Tuesday February 14), the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter was asked to assist in locating a 28-year-old man who had been reporting as diving head first into a sandbar from a houseboat on the Nambucca River.
The injured man was located near Warrell Point and the Westpac Life Saver Helicopter crew winched down a paramedic and a doctor to assist in the treatment and recovery of the patient.
Due to the remote access location of the scene the patient was stabilised and placed in a winch stretcher for recovery, which was performed under night vision goggles.
The patient had suffered a suspected spinal injury that required the Westpac Helicopter to fly through to Royal Brisbane Hospital.
The patient remained in serious but stable condition throughout the long flight north to Brisbane.
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter returned to Lismore at 5am.
