MAF pilot James Gullett flew two people from Nyinyikay homeland, a child and a teenager, who had been stung by a deadly box jellyfish.
Crocodiles and sharks are not the only danger hiding beneath the surface of the picturesque, turquoise seas of the Arnhem Land coast. In addition to deadly stonefish and cone shells, a brush against the long, transparent tentacles of a box jellyfish can lead to a life-threatening emergency for swimmers and fishermen.
The excruciating stings from these jellyfish can be fatal in the worst cases, causing cardiac arrest in victims within minutes of being stung.
James said, “I found out the following day that the teenage girl had been in severe distress. Apparently, she was rolling on the floor in immense pain; it was very shocking to those that witnessed it.
“Thankfully, her body made it through that first period which can cause cardiac arrest.
“When I made it there, she was recovering and was able to walk again, but we are very thankful that we got her to the hospital in good time.”
When I made it there, she was recovering and was able to walk again, but we are very thankful that we got her to the hospital in good time.
Fortunately, James’s passengers were still able to walk despite experiencing some pain, and the quick response by the MAF team had the pair and their escorts in the nearest hospital in short order.
Reservations Officer Imogen Caudell received the call at 3:00 pm, and a MAF plane was on the ground in Nyinyikay by 3:35 for the 25-minute flight back to Gove Airport.
By car over rough bush tracks, the same trip takes about three hours in ideal conditions.
MAF aircraft can land on the shortest and most rugged airstrips in Arnhem Land, which are inaccessible to larger aircraft, and the “can-do” attitude of the pilots and operations staff makes MAF’s presence a very real help in time of need.
