14-month-old child hoisted to safety in Biloela after floods

A 14-MONTH-OLD child was placed in a bag and hoisted to safety after flood waters swept the truck he was in off a Biloela road.

It was a dramatic rescue yesterday for RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue workers as they hoisted the 14-month-old child and two women to safety when their truck became swamped.

Rescue helicopter officers tried to reach the trio a number of times but couldn't get through to Biloela, due to low cloud and bad weather. 

The aircraft and crew managed to find a gap across the range.

Queensland Ambulance officers directed the chopper from the ground as they couldn't reach the stranded vehicle.

Members of the public also tried to reach them on foot but were hampered by the amount and speed of water across the road.

When rescue crews arrived at the vehicle the three occupants were sitting oi the ute's the tray, which rested against a large tree underwater.

A Rescue Crewman was hoisted down to the vehicle to carry out the rescue.

The child could not fit into a regular rescue sling so was placed into a bag that was connected to the hoist.

The child was taken from the bag and cared for by a QAS intensive care paramedic.

A crewman rescued the women and they were flown to Rockhampton Airport to be transferred to hospital.

Topics:  rescue