Most grey nomads are aware of the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and are grateful it exists, but no one really expects to need it … until they do!
Veteran grey nomads Richard and Lynn Clough were having the time of their lives travelling down the WA coast back in in 2023 when, in the blink of an eye, they went from living the dream to living the nightmare.
At their first stop after leaving Broome, Richard began vomiting violently and quickly sought medical advice. He was diagnosed with a suspected blocked bowel and told to head to Carnarvon – more than 400 kilometres further south to get a confirmation scan.
“We were unhitching the van at the caravan park in Carnarvon the next day when I began vomiting in front of neighbouring travellers,” said Richard. “I was delivered to the local hospital, which had already been briefed of my symptoms, and I was scanned and the diagnosis confirmed by 4pm.”
A Pilatus P-12 aircraft like this one transported Richard to hospital in Perth. PIC: RFDS
Richard was told the RDFS would be flying him to Perth that night, along with another man who had broken his wrist and lower arm by hitting a tree on a trail bike.
“At midnight, at a pitch-black Carnarvon airport, we were both loaded onto the RDFS Pilatus aircraft, with their doctor and nurse,” said Richard. “I was wheeled on a stretcher from the ambulance to the aircraft by two local volunteer ambulance paramedics.”
And he said it was amazing to see how the whole system operated and the incredible people behind it all.
“After refuelling and setting the flight plan, the pilot checked all passengers, bags and doors were properly secured, and we were off to Perth,” he said.
Richard says that, despite being a single turbo prop aircraft, the RDFS aircraft are fast.
“The flight plan required flying below 2,000 feet, as this aircraft was not pressurised and a blocked bowel can rupture if the pressure drops too low,” he said. “The pilot was redirected at Carnarvon to pick up another ‘sitting up’ patient, a mine worker who had broken both elbows when falling backwards on steel grating flooring at a remote inland mine site.”
Richard says flying low means more air disturbance, and as these aircraft save weight by not having internal linings, he could hear the plane’s unmuffled fuselage being continuously buffeted.
Nonetheless, Richard was in hospital in Perth in no time and, after undergoing successful surgery, and spent a week there recovering from his unexpected ordeal.
Meanwhile, Lynn had waited at Carnarvon for the couple’s son to fly out, and then the two of them towed the van down to Perth and then across the Nullarbor back to their Melbourne home.
Richard though missed out on that leg of the trip and instead took one more flight … but this time in a regular passenger plane complete with internal linings … and he was in considerably better frame of mind this time!
Now fully recovered and loving life on the road as much as ever, Richard remains incredibly grateful to all those who play a role in providing such a wonderful service.
“It’s all thanks to generosity of fundraising by local communities, mining companies and individual philanthropists,” he said. “The RFDS saves many lives in Outback medical emergencies.”
WIN DENI UTE MUSTER TICKETS
Grey Nomad members are being given the chance to win one of three admission and camping packages to the iconic Deni Ute Muster event in the NSW town of Deniliquin.
Each package is valued at $800 and includes two General Admission tickets, a reserved campsite, and early entry from Wednesday for the event which this year runs from Friday, October 2, until Saturday, October 3.
Click here to learn more about the competition.
