The Cessnock District Rescue Squad has been kept very busy lately attending a mix of urgent and non-urgent calls for assistance.
The squad responded to multiple calls for assistance between the 23rd and 25th following an episode of inclement weather including heavy rain and strong wind. Squad personnel attended many locations throughout the district with varying nature of incidents, the most common being fallen or damaged trees. Several calls were also received for leaking or damaged roofs and minor flooding. Calls for assistance commenced early on Saturday 23rd with squad personnel continuing operations until around 4am Sunday 24th. At around 9am Sunday 24th squad personnel responded to Valley Fields Road Elrington with reports that two persons were trapped in a vehicle in fast flowing flood water. Whilst en route to the location a Police vehicle arrived at the scene and confirmed that no persons were in the vehicle and Rescue Services were not required. Squad personnel then recommenced storm repair operations and continued through to around 4pm. More calls were received on Monday 25th with squad personnel spending several more hours cutting and removing damaged and fallen trees and tree branches
Shortly after 7pm Tuesday 26th squad personnel responded to Ekerts road Pokolbin to assist Paramedics. A female had fallen from a horse in an isolated paddock and Paramedics required assistance to carry the women to the Ambulance.
At around 10am Wednesday 27th squad personnel responded to John Renshaw Drive following reports of a three vehicle collision with persons trapped. Upon arrival at the scene, approximately one kilometre east of Stanford Methyr Paramedics advised Rescue Personnel that the female driver of one vehicle was trapped with five other patients involved but all out of the other two vehicles. Whilst Paramedics treated the injured, Rescue Personnel stabilised the vehicle in which the women was trapped and using hydraulic spreaders and cutters removed the driver’s side of the vehicle. After around thirty minutes the women was released from the vehicle and placed into an Ambulance to be further stabilised by Paramedics. The women was then transferred to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter which landed near the scene then flown to the John Hunter Hospital with multiple limb injuries and possible spinal and internal injuries. The four occupants, a man, woman and two children from a second sedan and the male diver and sole occupant of a utility were all treated at the scene for non-life threatening injuries before being transported by several Ambulances to the John Hunter Hospital. John Renshaw Drive was closed to all traffic between Kurri Kurri and Buchanan for around two hours as a result of the collision.
Shortly after leaving the location of the collision squad personnel were responded to assist Paramedics at a Lightfoot Street Cessnock address. Upon arrival at the address Paramedics advised Rescue Personnel that they had managed to gain access to the premises but requested assistance with lifting the patient from the floor.