Helicopter heroes honoured
THE valiant actions of four Australian Defence Force members first on scene of a fiery traffic crash have been recognised more than a year after the incident.
ADF members Captain Gary Hamilton, Captain Warren Wilton, Second Lieutenant Ingrid Dylan and Lieutenant Michael Tenkate were yesterday awarded the Commissioner’s Certificate of Appreciation for their instinctive actions trying to save an elderly man’s life after a crash near Cooyar.
Second Lt Dylan, then an officer cadet, and Capt. Gary Hamilton had been flying over Pierces Creek Rd near Cooyar, about 6.45pm on July 21 last year on a routine training mission.
The pair spotted a white flash through night-vision goggles, and swooped down to investigate the cause to find a car had caught fire after crashing into a tree.
Landing in a nearby paddock, Second Lt Dylan ran to the scene and found the injured driver and sole occupant of the vehicle trapped in the passenger window.
Capt. Hamilton helped pull the man, 85, whose clothes were on fire from the burning wreck. He smothered the flames.
A second helicopter with Capt. Wilton Lt Tenkate landed nearby. Working as a team the man was given first-aid as paramedics arrived and took the man to hospital.
He was later airlifted to the Royal Brisbane Hospital in a critical condition and died the next day.
Capt. Hamilton accepted the certificates on behalf of his colleagues from Police Minister Mark Ryan and Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart.
Mr Ryan said recipients had proven a range of skills and attributes that enabled Queenslanders to place their faith and confidence in them.
“Their skills highlight courage, aptitude, boundless dedication and commitment, not only to their profession, but also to Queensland communities,” he said. “They are a credit . . . to the community they serve, and to their family and friends.”