Just before midday on Saturday, 5th December the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked by Ambulance New South Wales to the Blue Hole, on the Namoi River Road, some 20 klms north of Manilla to reports of a serious single vehicle accident with two occupants trapped.
Initial reports indicated that the vehicle had run off the road, rolling down the side of a hill coming to rest against a tree and a rock,some four to five metres from the Namoi River trapping the two occupants. Local Ambulance Paramedics police, Rural Fire Service, Volunteer Rescue Squad and Fire & Rescue attended the scene. National Parks and Wildlife Service personnel also assisted at the emergency.
Upon arrival at the scene emergency services found that one occupant of the vehicle had freed himself from he vehicle and climbed back up to the roadway to seek assistance. Emergency services then made their way down to the vehicle and freed the trapped man.
Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Critical Care Medical Team assisted a 30 year old male suffering from chest and arm injuries.
Once released from the vehicle the male was stabilised before being flown direct to the Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital in a stable condition.
The second male occupant was assessed by the Helicopter Critical Care Medical before being road transported by Ambulance to the Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital in a stable condition suffering minor injuries. The cause of the accident is being investigated by police.
Photos: Below – emergency services at the scene of the accident on the Namoi River Road (photo courtesy of Manilla Rural Fire Service). Top – The released man being placed into the Rescue Helicopter (which had to land on the roadway) for transfer to Tamworth Hospital (photo courtesy
