Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Qld paramedic dies responding to emergency
A paramedic has been killed after he lost control of his ambulance on his way to help with an emergency in north Queensland.
January 28, 2019
Queensland Ambulance Service has had its “most tragic day” when paramedics attended one their own after an ambulance racing to an emergency crashed killing the driver.
The 32-year-old paramedic was the only one in the vehicle when it rolled several times and smashed into a tree near Mackay, just after 8am on Monday, QAS says.
Bystanders and responding paramedics tried to save the male officer, who was in a critical condition, but he died at the scene in Benholme, acting deputy commissioner Gerard Lawler told reporters.
“It’s our most tragic day … it’s a most distressing event for those attending, (we have lost) a colleague, a friend and a loved one, who was highly respected in his profession and no doubt his family,” he said.
“Every support is being provided to those who responded … in these tragic circumstance we have experienced today.”
The advanced care paramedic was responding to a code one medical emergency with lights and sirens when the incident occurred.
“It’s the highest code and urgency an officer can respond to,” Mr Lawler said.
Road conditions in the Mackay area were wet following significant rain in north Queensland.
“The officer was very experienced, he’d worked with the service for about 10 years,” Mr Lawler said.
Police are investigating the crash.