An Aboriginal man is reportedly fighting for his life after he fell onto the tarmac during an airport transfer by the Royal Flying Doctor Service in remote Western Australia.
The man, aged in his 40s, is believed to have been on a trolley being wheeled to a waiting plane in Onslow in WA’s Pilbara region on December 6 when the fall occurred.
As a result of the incident, the man reportedly sustained head injuries and was transferred to the Royal Perth Hospital, 1300km away, in a critical but stable condition.
The West Australian, which first reported the incident, said the Royal Flying Doctor Service had refused to say how the man fell or if he had been dropped in transfer.
The service, which operates across remote parts of Australia, confirmed in a statement from chief executive Judith Barker that the matter was “currently under investigation”.
“Our thoughts are with the patient and his family at this very difficult time,” she said. “The Royal Flying Doctor Service is unable to provide any detail at this stage.
“The RFDS is working with St John WA to investigate this matter and ensure the family is supported. The safety and care of every RFDS patient is our highest priority.”
A St John Ambulance Service spokesperson told The West Australian that the service was working with RFDS and was “supporting the family through the process”.
The paper reported the man was already suffering serious health issues at the time of the transfer and the incident had left his extended family “devastated and angry”.
A spokesman from WA Country Health Service, which originally requested the transfer, told the West Australian that the man was not in their care when the incident occurred.
“It is our expectation that the transport providers involved will complete a full and thorough investigation,” she said.
“In the interim, we will continue to closely support the patient involved and their family. We know this is an extremely difficult time for them.”
The Royal Flying Doctor Service has been contacted for comment.