The Cessnock District Rescue Squad has been kept very busy throughout the past four weeks attending eleven call outs of varying nature.
Shortly after 9am Friday 15th June squad members attended a three vehicle collision on John Renshaw Drive Buchanan. Squad personnel used hydraulic rescue equipment to extricate the male diver of one vehicle along with assisting Paramedics with treating all other patients. The female passenger of the trapped man was deceased at the scene, the male driver along with the dog that was in the vehicle also passed away following the incident resulting in an absolute tragedy.
At 1.30pm that afternoon two squad members attended a Pokolbin Vineyard following the sighting of a snake. Following a brief search the members located, captured and successfully released a Red Bellied Black snake. This is a timely reminder that although usually in hibernation during winter, snakes can still be encountered year round. If you see a snake do not attempt to catch or kill it, call 49912444 immediately and if safe to do so monitor its movements as this greatly increases the chances of a successful capture.
At 3.15pm Monday 18th Police requested the squads assistance following reports of a stranded motorist on Deadmans Road Lovedale. Two squad members responded in a 4wd and found a young female driver a long way from anywhere and bogged. Upon being asked why she had attempted to travel along the remote track she told the members “she was just following her GPS navigators directions”. The members winched the grateful young ladies vehicle back to Lomas Lane Nulkaba from which point she was able to resume her journey.
At 5.45pm Friday 29th Police again requested the squads assistance with an animal rescue at a Sawyers Gulley property. Squad members attended and were informed by the property owner that one of the horses was on the ground, unable to get up and that a veterinarian had also been called. Whilst waiting for the veterinarian to arrive squad members set up equipment ready to lift the horse, however upon his arrival the veterinarian advised that the horse was very unwell and probably had a back injury. The veterinarian advised against forcefully lifting the horse so squad members packed up their equipment and returned to base leaving the owner and the veterinarian to discuss the options.
Shortly after midday Friday 30th squad members responded to reports of a vehicle overturned on Broke Road Pokolbin. Upon arrival at the scene it was evident that no persons were trapped or seriously injured, squad personnel remained at the scene for around one hour assisting Police with traffic control while the scene was cleared. Whilst travelling back to base squad personnel came across another single vehicle collision on Darwin Street Cessnock. A vehicle had collided with a pole but upon assessment no persons were trapped or seriously injured so again squad members provided traffic control until the scene was cleared, arriving back at base around 4pm.
At 4.50pm squad members responded to a Wollombi property following reports of a man trapped under a tree. Upon arrival the man was no longer trapped under the tree so squad members assisted Paramedics with treating the man along with assisting Police with the landing of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Despite the best efforts of Intensive Care Paramedics and all other services the man was pronounced deceased at the scene. Squad members supplied lighting of the scene to assist Police Investigation Officers.
At 5.50pm Tuesday 3rd July squad members responded Congewai Street Aberdare with reports of persons trapped collision. Upon arrival at the scene it was found that although the female driver was still in the vehicle she was not trapped, with Paramedics treating two males on the roadway. The males had been on motorcycle that collided with the vehicle leaving one male with injuries and one fighting for his life. Rescue members assisted Paramedics with treating all patients and provided traffic control with the Westpac Rescue Helicopter landing in a nearby park. The critically injured male was airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital where he was later unfortunately pronounced deceased. Squad members again provided lighting of the scene to assist Police Investigation Officers.
At 5pm Monday 9th Police requested the squads assistance to provide traffic control and lighting following a serious collision on Broke Road Pokolbin. Squad members remained at the scene until 11pm assisting Police Investigation Officers with lighting along with blocking all traffic at the Hermitage and Ekert Road intersections with Broke Road.
Shortly after 3pm Wednesday 11th squad members responded to Stephen Street West Cessnock to assist Paramedics with removing an injured man from a concrete storm water drain. Squad personnel placed the man into a Stokes Litter, removed him from the drain and loaded him into the Ambulance. The man was transported to hospital for treatment of a severe head laceration and assessment for any other injuries.
At 4.45pm Thursday 12th squad members responded to a Subiaco Avenue Cessnock house with reports of woman impaled on a fence. Upon arrival at the scene squad members found the women in an animal enclosure with a section of reinforcing steel imbedded in her lower leg. Rescue personnel cut a section of the steel around the women’s leg allowing Paramedics to treat the injuries and transport the women to hospital.
The combined man hours of these call outs totals 230 hours, combined with another 100 hours of training and maintenance in the past four weeks highlights the level of commitment, skill and diversity of your Volunteer Rescue Operators. Despite providing the excellent 24 hour, 365 day service as highlighted above the squad members are also responsible for the vast majority of the Cessnock District Rescue Squad’s fundraising. I would again like to remind all local businesses of the Business Sponsorship scheme in which your business receives free quarterly advertising in The Advertiser. Apart from all other existing benefits Pedens Hotel Cessnock, a proud Business Sponsor, has offered $100 vouchers to the next ten businesses that become Business Sponsors. For more detail contact the squad’s PR Officer Jason Sattler on 0458 039 588 or jsattler@ambulance.nsw.gov.au
Cessnock District Rescue Squad
Public Relations Officer
Jason Sattler 0458 039 588