0:00:02 > 0:00:03DIDGERIDOO SOUNDS
0:00:03 > 0:00:05- RADIO:- CareFlight, fall from a tree...
0:00:05 > 0:00:08It's one of the most beautiful but dangerous places on earth.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10My name's Helen, I'm one of the doctors.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14Any pain in there, any teeth loose or anything like that?
0:00:14 > 0:00:16And when Australians call out the Flying Doctor...
0:00:16 > 0:00:18Keep her coming round.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20..they're likely to be British.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24And so is the pilot, paramedic and crewman.
0:00:24 > 0:00:27We'll see lots of sharks, 200-300 metres out.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30I think they get the idea when we go like that.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32- VOICES ON RADIO:- 'Life Saver 24.'
0:00:32 > 0:00:35'They say they've got the bends from coming up too quickly.'
0:00:35 > 0:00:38From shark attacks on surfing beaches,
0:00:38 > 0:00:42- to exploding barbecues in the Sydney suburbs...- Went round you?
0:00:42 > 0:00:44..these are the Brits who can make the difference
0:00:44 > 0:00:47between life and death Down Under.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12- Is that all right? - James Milligan is an NHS consultant
0:01:12 > 0:01:14working at Leeds General Infirmary.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16How's that tummy pain now?
0:01:16 > 0:01:18Now, like hundreds of medics every year,
0:01:18 > 0:01:21- he's swapping rainy Britain... - It's wet.- It IS wet!
0:01:21 > 0:01:23..for a life in the sun.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26Been living right by the ocean, it's a beautiful spot.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Work's nice and relaxed.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31The atmosphere's great, life probably couldn't be much better.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36But it's a place where the nearest hospital can be 200 miles away,
0:01:36 > 0:01:38and the wildlife can kill you.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41Are you ready? Can I listen to your heart?
0:01:41 > 0:01:45Welcome to one of the world's most extreme health services.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Today, a teenager who's been thrown off his Jet Ski
0:01:49 > 0:01:52needs the flying medics.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55Fly us there next to the beach, visual with the ambos as well, they're on the beach.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59A diver has a suspected case of the bends.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01He's either suffering decompression illness
0:02:01 > 0:02:04or something else is going on.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07And a four-year-old is crushed by a cupboard.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Most of the team here have children of their own
0:02:09 > 0:02:11so there's a little bit of added pressure.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22Aussies love messing around on the water.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28The country's home to 800,000 pleasure boats.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33From ocean-going yachts to gin palaces, dinghies to speedboats.
0:02:34 > 0:02:39One in ten Aussies sail for fun and other water sports are booming, too.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49The Hawkesbury River is not as famous as Sydney's beaches
0:02:49 > 0:02:52but locals know it's one of the best places in New South Wales
0:02:52 > 0:02:54to get out on a Jet Ski.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01And that makes plenty of work for the CareFlight team.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04CareFlight is called
0:03:04 > 0:03:07if a patient is unconscious or is suspected of having a head injury.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10All we have at the minute is Windsor, we'll just head off in that direction,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12I'll get more details en route.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15Today, they're on their way to a teenager who's hit his head
0:03:15 > 0:03:18after being thrown off his Jet Ski into the water.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23It's about a kilometre to the north of Windsor
0:03:23 > 0:03:25on the far side of the river.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Yeah, copy that, mate. Cheers.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30Before he moved to Australia, John Legge from Liverpool
0:03:30 > 0:03:35- served in Afghanistan with the RAF. - The important thing for us is time.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37We need to get there as fast as we can.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41If we don't do that, then they may as well send an ambulance.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45The accident has happened at an activity centre near Windsor
0:03:45 > 0:03:47which is 30 miles north-west of Sydney.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50The boy fell off the boat and we just saw them waving us down.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55We came past and he was just in the water unconscious,
0:03:55 > 0:03:57pretty white-looking.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00RADIO: Yeah, this is Wilberforce Road,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02which is the address we were given.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06It's John's job to work out where the pilot should head for,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09but once the chopper gets close, the whole team is on look-out.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Can see some Jet Skis down there.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18You'll see the go-kart track which is right next to the butterfly farm.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21Visual with the ambulance in the three o'clock.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Keep her coming round, keep her coming round.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Right there, next to the beach. Visual with the ambos as well,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29- they're on the beach.- We could land in that overlay on the front.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31Yeah, that's probably better, isn't it?
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Yeah, straight in for that one, there.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35100 around. 40 below the building.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37INAUDIBLE INSTRUCTIONS
0:04:37 > 0:04:39Two below to ground, one left main coming on,
0:04:39 > 0:04:42right main coming off, six inches on the nose. Nose is down.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Down, secure and firm.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48CareFlight has arrived within 12 minutes of getting the call.
0:04:48 > 0:04:49How are you?
0:04:49 > 0:04:51This is Zack on the back of the Jet Ski.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55- Yeah.- Observing, facing backwards. - Yeah.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59Fell off, the guy on the tube hit him in the head.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03- Complaining of neck pain. - Ah, my neck!
0:05:03 > 0:05:05ZACK GROANS IN PAIN
0:05:05 > 0:05:0814-year-old Zack Boyd is a Jet Ski novice.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12Yeah, yep. OK.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14We just need to get rid of that lifejacket.
0:05:14 > 0:05:15Why don't we pick him up on it?
0:05:15 > 0:05:18'I was on the phone straight away to triple-O.'
0:05:18 > 0:05:21It was his first time on the Jet Ski so he was on the back
0:05:21 > 0:05:25observing and he's fell off and the tube's run him over.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29Beautiful. OK, we'll take the lifejacket off. Hang in there.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32Can we have another couple of people who...
0:05:32 > 0:05:33Can you come and give us a hand?
0:05:35 > 0:05:36I'll hold onto his head.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38Can you put your hand over the other side, sir?
0:05:38 > 0:05:42- Yep. Got it?- Want us to help? - Now walk towards me.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46- Follow me, follow me.- He was pretty white and he wasn't moving.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49His eyes were rolling back in his head and he was shaking heaps.
0:05:49 > 0:05:50Ready to lower? Lower.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53What we might do,
0:05:53 > 0:05:57we might put the collar on and then roll him and take the lifejacket off
0:05:57 > 0:06:00then we might cover him and get him up onto the dry stuff
0:06:00 > 0:06:03- and we'll go from there.- OK.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06The CareFlight team is concerned that Zack might have a serious
0:06:06 > 0:06:10head injury so they need to get him to hospital fast.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Hi, Peter. It's John from CareFlight Four.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16We just picked up a patient and we're going to bring him to your HLS,
0:06:16 > 0:06:18he'll be the next landing site
0:06:18 > 0:06:22and we'll probably be there in about 20 minutes, I'd say.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27I'm a bit worried about his neck and I'm also worried that he hasn't...
0:06:27 > 0:06:29can't remember anything today,
0:06:29 > 0:06:32which can be a sign of a head injury.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34So he definitely needs observation.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38There are some conditions where you look all right
0:06:38 > 0:06:39and then go off again and certainly
0:06:39 > 0:06:43that's why we've got a whole heap of stuff ready in the aircraft
0:06:43 > 0:06:45in case he does go off in flight.
0:06:45 > 0:06:46Stick the tail around to the right,
0:06:46 > 0:06:49we'll back into this pavilion over here and take off to the north.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54The CareFlight helicopter may be small and a bit cramped
0:06:54 > 0:06:59but it's very fast. It can travel at 190mph.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06One of the downsides of transporting patients by air
0:07:06 > 0:07:08is it can make them sick...
0:07:08 > 0:07:10He's had a massive vomit
0:07:10 > 0:07:14- but probably best keep going at this stage.- OK.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16..especially when they've swallowed a few gallons
0:07:16 > 0:07:19of the Hawkesbury River, like Zack has.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21- We'll just get in as quick as we can.- Sure.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28So everyone's relieved when they finally get to hospital,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31particularly, paramedic Ben Southers.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34There's a fair bit of vomit gone through the back cabin.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Zack has a CT scan which confirms
0:07:39 > 0:07:42that he hasn't suffered a serious head injury.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44He's allowed to go home the same day.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55Every year, hundreds of British doctors apply for visas
0:07:55 > 0:07:57to work in Australia.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01The ones who join the air ambulance in Sydney will have spent an average
0:08:01 > 0:08:06of ten years training in the most advanced aspects of modern medicine.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08But when they arrive here,
0:08:08 > 0:08:12it's back to square one in the basics of flying.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15Harness checked, secure. J-knife fitted and clear of D-ring,
0:08:15 > 0:08:20so check my harness, all fine, and my J-knife is clear.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24Dr Hilary Eason is undergoing a refresher course in winching,
0:08:24 > 0:08:27perhaps the most dangerous part of a flying doctor's job.
0:08:28 > 0:08:30Going for a thumbs-up? Got a thumbs-up.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34We don't get operational winches or hover-entry exits very often
0:08:34 > 0:08:36so it's really important to be familiar with the procedure.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39I'm the rescuer, I don't have any equipment that needs to be attached,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42- that's the patient so they're complete.- Yep.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46'When we get to do it, it's quite a stressful situation anyway,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49'not least if you're not familiar with the equipment.'
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Dr Hilary and fellow Brit David Anderson
0:08:51 > 0:08:54must be able to descend from the chopper
0:08:54 > 0:08:57on a wire thinner than her little finger
0:08:57 > 0:08:59in all weathers, day or night.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02And today, she's doing it at sea.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04RADIO: 'Rescue 26 is now in flight.'
0:09:04 > 0:09:05INAUDIBLE COCKPIT MESSAGES
0:09:07 > 0:09:10These waters are a training ground for the ambulance service
0:09:10 > 0:09:13of New South Wales Air Ambulance crews.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17But beneath the surface, they're a playground for divers.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Diving is big business around Sydney.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25The water's clear, rarely cooler than 22 degrees Celsius
0:09:25 > 0:09:27and teeming with marine life.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30And up the coast north of Sydney,
0:09:30 > 0:09:34the Australians have sunk a warship to explore.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37HMAS Adelaide is now a man-made reef
0:09:37 > 0:09:41but wreck diving is a risky sport and today Dr Hilary is
0:09:41 > 0:09:45called off winch training to rescue someone who may have the bends.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48- RADIO:- Rescue 24, we've been passed by Aeromedical Operations
0:09:48 > 0:09:51to go to Erina. Can you give us some details on this case, please?
0:09:51 > 0:09:54We're out flying and we have very limited details.
0:09:54 > 0:09:56However, this diver is already on dry land.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58He didn't start feeling unwell
0:09:58 > 0:10:02until he was driving back to his home in Sydney.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05And now Rescue 24 is heading for a cricket pitch in the suburbs.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13The bends is a potentially fatal condition.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Bubbles of nitrogen build up in the body causing agonising pain
0:10:16 > 0:10:21in the joints. It can lead to permanent disability.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24So, this is a middle-aged gentleman who's surfaced from a wreck dive,
0:10:24 > 0:10:28his second dive of the day, and he's got possibly joint pain
0:10:28 > 0:10:33and epigastric pain, so he's either suffering decompression illness
0:10:33 > 0:10:37or something else is going on, such as he's got a cardiac condition
0:10:37 > 0:10:40or...um, well, we'll see!
0:10:46 > 0:10:49- Hey. Hi, guys.- How are you going, guys? This is Hilary.- Hello.
0:10:49 > 0:10:5253-year-old Mark Batterns is a firefighter who's been
0:10:52 > 0:10:55sports diving for 30 years.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59He's highly qualified and very fit but the bends can affect anyone.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02- Mark?- Hard to breath.- OK.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06And just general sickness.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10- OK, that pain in your abdomen, is it here?- Yeah.- OK.
0:11:10 > 0:11:11Just describe it to me.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13Just like a dull ache at the moment.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15A dull ache, OK. Have you had anything like that before?
0:11:15 > 0:11:17- No.- Have you got any heart problems?- No.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20- Never had chest pain for any reason? - No, never.
0:11:20 > 0:11:23That sensation in your chest, does it goes anywhere else, into your arm?
0:11:23 > 0:11:24- No.- Nothing like that?
0:11:24 > 0:11:28- It's more like a nauseous feeling. - Yeah, OK.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31He may need a session in a hyperbaric chamber
0:11:31 > 0:11:34which recreates the pressure divers experience at depth.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36We'll put it back on.
0:11:36 > 0:11:37There's two things that could be going on.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41Yes, you've had two dives today so there's a pretty high chance
0:11:41 > 0:11:44that it could be something related to the bends or decompression sickness.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47The other thing is any other sensation that feels a bit strange
0:11:47 > 0:11:49in your chest could well be your heart
0:11:49 > 0:11:51so we need to treat you for both, really.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Mark's symptoms are concerning Dr Hilary.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58We've treated him in case he has got cardiac chest pain
0:11:58 > 0:12:00and he's on high-flow oxygen.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03We'll take him as soon as possible as low as possible in the aircraft
0:12:03 > 0:12:06to Prince of Wales where they've got a great emergency department
0:12:06 > 0:12:09and also a hyperbaric chamber, if he does need recompressing.
0:12:09 > 0:12:10Locked in, just roll him forward.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14At Sydney's Prince of Wales Hospital,
0:12:14 > 0:12:18the hyperbaric chamber is being prepared for Mark.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22By returning him to the pressure he experienced during his dive,
0:12:22 > 0:12:23his body will be able to dissolve
0:12:23 > 0:12:25any nitrogen bubbles in his bloodstream.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Most patients who have any sort of symptoms soon after diving
0:12:31 > 0:12:32get referred to us.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35The problem we have to sort out is, is it a diving-related problem or
0:12:35 > 0:12:38a normal medical problem? That's quite difficult to work out.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44For Dr Hilary, Rescue 24 will have her patient
0:12:44 > 0:12:46in the hyperbaric unit within ten minutes.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51For the pilot, this will be a challenging flight.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54Altitude can worsen the symptoms of the bends
0:12:54 > 0:12:57so he'll be flying as low as possible.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01RADIO: ..1,400 feet, another one just to the north, 2,700 feet...
0:13:01 > 0:13:03Luckily, Sydney is one of the easiest cities
0:13:03 > 0:13:07in the world for helicopter pilots to fly through.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09If they follow the river, they don't even need clearance
0:13:09 > 0:13:11from air traffic control.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19At the hospital, Mark goes through a battery of tests
0:13:19 > 0:13:20but the results are confusing.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24There's no amazing diagnostic test to tell you
0:13:24 > 0:13:26if someone has got decompression illness or not.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29"The bends," so-called. There's no amazing test,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32it's more to do with the history and the examination.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36And so it takes a fair bit of nous try and sort that out.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Doctors decide against putting Mark in the chamber
0:13:38 > 0:13:42and he's later allowed home after a period of observation,
0:13:42 > 0:13:45unaware that he's Dr Hilary's last patient
0:13:45 > 0:13:48after a year as an Australian flying doctor.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52We're taking the skills that we've learned over here
0:13:52 > 0:13:54and bringing them back to the UK.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58Our training costs in excess of 30,000 Australian dollars
0:13:58 > 0:14:02and that's access to training that I would never have received in the UK.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12When night falls, Aussies have a reputation for liking a drink
0:14:12 > 0:14:14but that has its downside.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16One in four fatal crashes involves drivers
0:14:16 > 0:14:18who are above the legal limit.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20How are you going? Can I see your license, please?
0:14:20 > 0:14:22You've been stopped for random testing.
0:14:22 > 0:14:26That's why police random breath tests stations - or RBTs -
0:14:26 > 0:14:28are a common sight in Sydney,
0:14:28 > 0:14:30especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33We have a major operation, drug and alcohol testing operation,
0:14:33 > 0:14:35on the Sydney Harbour Bridge here.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38He's blown over six times the legal limit, it's only 8:30 at night.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41We've got him off the road, thank God.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43We've been doing it for over 30 years but I know we have saved
0:14:43 > 0:14:47tens of thousands of lives by doing RBT. That's why we're here.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51The Government claims that over 7,000 fewer people have
0:14:51 > 0:14:53died on the roads in New South Wales
0:14:53 > 0:14:56since random breath testing was introduced.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00But it's hard for some Australians to shake off their drinking culture.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05You can wear my helmet, mate, if you want.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10I'll give him a call, we'll get down there, get a report.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12It's just a trapped male?
0:15:12 > 0:15:14And today, Dr Sarah Coombes from Yorkshire
0:15:14 > 0:15:18and paramedic Graham Goodman are dealing with the consequences.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22They're fighting their way through traffic on the Princes Highway,
0:15:22 > 0:15:2475 miles south of Sydney.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27They're on their way to a serious road accident
0:15:27 > 0:15:29where the driver may have been drinking.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31He was speeding and he hit the rail
0:15:31 > 0:15:34and bounced across the other side of the road.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39Back home, doctors rarely travel to accidents with ambulance crews.
0:15:39 > 0:15:44In the UK, the BASICS doctors are volunteer doctors.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46Here, we're very much part of the ambulance service and we're
0:15:46 > 0:15:50an extra bit of the armamentarium that the ambulance service have.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56- Hi, I'm Sarah.- G'day, Sarah.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00He was drag racing with four other cars.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03- Witnessed high speed. First impact just up here.- Yeah.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06- They've gone across the road and it hit the barrier.- Yeah.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09- He was a little bit confused when I turned up.- Yeah.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12He's now able to say his name, where he was going.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15- He was on his way home from work, so forth.- Yeah.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20He's definitely dislocated, possibly fractured his right shoulder.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25- OK.- How much have you had to drink? - Three beers.- Three beers?
0:16:25 > 0:16:29On any medicines for anything? You've not taken any drugs today? OK.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32I'm going to have a little feel of your chest and your tummy.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35If I do anything that causes you pain, will you tell me?
0:16:35 > 0:16:37- Of course, yeah.- OK.
0:16:37 > 0:16:38HE GROANS
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Dr Sarah and the paramedics suspect that the man has had
0:16:41 > 0:16:45more to drink than a few beers, and that he also might be high on drugs.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48I think what we should do is take you to St George Hospital in Sydney
0:16:48 > 0:16:51because you've had a pretty high impact there.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Given it's your chest, it's more sensible to take you
0:16:54 > 0:16:56in the helicopter to a major trauma centre.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59- OK?- Thanks, Andy. Just giving you an update, mate.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02We are loading this patient into 163 at this point of time,
0:17:02 > 0:17:05we're going to ferry down to Kiama Harbour.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08I've booked an aircraft, helicopter will be here in about ten minutes
0:17:08 > 0:17:11and we'll transport to St George, thanks.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15The rescue helicopter will fly out from base
0:17:15 > 0:17:19and land as close to the scene of the accident as possible.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22At the moment, he's had a pretty significant high-speed impact,
0:17:22 > 0:17:25lots of pain in his right upper chest and right shoulder
0:17:25 > 0:17:28and in his right upper abdomen so I'm worried that he's damaged
0:17:28 > 0:17:31ribs and lung and possibly his liver as well.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33We'll pop him in the back of the ambulance
0:17:33 > 0:17:35and drive him to the nearest landing site for the helicopter
0:17:35 > 0:17:38and then we'll fly him to St George, major trauma centre.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42- Coming with us or going with him? - I'll go with him.- I'll take the board.- OK, ta.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Patients who have alcohol or drugs in their system
0:17:50 > 0:17:52can become aggressive.
0:17:52 > 0:17:56Dr Sarah needs to be certain that this man is calm enough
0:17:56 > 0:17:58to travel safely in the aircraft.
0:17:58 > 0:17:59Maybe once we're in the helicopter,
0:17:59 > 0:18:01we'll get you sorted out, it won't be long.
0:18:01 > 0:18:02MUFFLED GROANS
0:18:18 > 0:18:21I'm worried about your spine cos you've had a significant impact.
0:18:21 > 0:18:23- OK.- And you've got a lot of pain in the shoulder that may be
0:18:23 > 0:18:25distracting you from pain in your spine.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28HE GROANS I'm just doing an ultrasound, called a FAST scan,
0:18:28 > 0:18:33a focused abdominal scan in trauma to look for any free blood
0:18:33 > 0:18:36that may be a sign that he's damaged some of his abdominal organs.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- RADIO:- New entry, go ahead. - Thank you.
0:18:40 > 0:18:46Yeah, Rescue 26 is now in flight to St George, ETA at 1845, 1845.
0:18:48 > 0:18:53Repeat that, St George's Hospital, ETA 1845,
0:18:53 > 0:18:55thanks very much for your help.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Whether they're working in the UK or Australia,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01doctors like Sarah have to put their personal feelings to one side
0:19:01 > 0:19:03when they're treating a patient.
0:19:04 > 0:19:05This can be hard to do
0:19:05 > 0:19:09when patients put their own lives at risk as well as the lives of others.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17'It's everybody else on the road that they're likely to impact.
0:19:17 > 0:19:21'It's incredibly frustrating. Not just the road accidents we go to.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23'a lot of the work we go to is the result of people
0:19:23 > 0:19:26'not being properly prepared for the activities they're doing
0:19:26 > 0:19:28'or doing stupid things'
0:19:28 > 0:19:31and you just have to bite your tongue and get on with it
0:19:31 > 0:19:32and not have a go at them
0:19:32 > 0:19:35because obviously we're not here to be judgemental.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38We're here to treat them and even though inside you're thinking,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40"You idiot", you can't really say it.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46The drink-driver in this case escaped a serious head injury.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49He was treated for a broken shoulder and fractured ribs.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55The scenery may be better but the Sydney rush-hour is
0:19:55 > 0:19:59the same as any other big city's - long, slow and frustrating.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Thousands bypass the jams by catching a ferry to the office
0:20:05 > 0:20:08but many commuters prefer to go by bike.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15This morning, Dr James Milligan has been scrambled to the
0:20:15 > 0:20:17kind of emergency he was used to
0:20:17 > 0:20:19back on the chillier streets of Leeds.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26On the main road into town from the suburbs, a biker has come off.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35The jams are already building and the crew of Rescue 21
0:20:35 > 0:20:38must find somewhere safe to land in the woodland suburbs.
0:20:48 > 0:20:49Hey, guys.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- G'day.- Gentlemen.- Nice to meet you.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57- Doctor.- Oh, we met before. - What's your name?- James.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59- James, how are you, James? - Don't worry about it.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02- Andy Thompson, how are you? - Good. Hi, buddy.
0:21:02 > 0:21:07- This is Paul.- Paul Petkowski is 24 and a keen motorcyclist.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11He had all the right gear including Kevlar body armour
0:21:11 > 0:21:15- which is probably why he's still alive.- He was on the way to work.
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- Felt unwell, turned around to go back home.- OK.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21He was travelling around that speed
0:21:21 > 0:21:23- and sideswiped by a motor vehicle. - OK.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27And complains of significant pain around his pelvis and thigh,
0:21:27 > 0:21:31- right thigh area.- Yeah.- Significant damage to his helmet, just here.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Yeah, I saw that.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37- Where he's actually come down.- Took a bit of a crack, didn't he?- Yep.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40This is the Princes Highway, a major urban route
0:21:40 > 0:21:43and the accident's delaying thousands of commuters.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45But Paul must come first.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48- Hey, Paul.- Hi.- My name's James, one of the doctors. How are you doing?
0:21:48 > 0:21:49- MUFFLED:- I'm all right.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51I've just heard all about you
0:21:51 > 0:21:53but tell me which bit's hurting you the most at the minute?
0:21:53 > 0:21:55- My elbow.- Your elbow.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58He does have what looks like a puncture wound to his elbow.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01- It more looks like a burn.- Two lines, or is that just a dressing?
0:22:01 > 0:22:05- Only the one line.- Just the one line.- Yep.- Big breath.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Dr James knows the accident caused Paul's injuries
0:22:08 > 0:22:11but he's curious about what made him feel unwell in the first place.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13- And out.- Pulse rate's 104.
0:22:13 > 0:22:18One by one, he quietly rules out any serious underlying health problems.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20Do you remember the ambulance turning up?
0:22:20 > 0:22:22- I didn't see anyone else.- OK.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26- I just said, "Is this a dream?"- All right. Do you know where you are now?
0:22:26 > 0:22:28- In the ambulance. - In the ambulance, yes.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31We'll get you to St George, more precautionary than anything else
0:22:31 > 0:22:34just to check everything's all right. You've come off at a fair whack.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36- OK.- We'll get everything sorted from there.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39Dr James is satisfied his patient's injuries are painful
0:22:39 > 0:22:44but not critical. It's safe for him to travel by road.
0:22:44 > 0:22:45I think we're going to road him.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50It's 15 minutes to St George's, I think we should just get moving.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53Luckily, he didn't go under a car or a truck or something else.
0:22:53 > 0:22:57So considering he was going fast and hit the road hard, he's very lucky
0:22:57 > 0:23:01he's only got lower limb fractures and he'll do pretty well.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04He's on his way to St George with our doctor looking after him.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07We're going to get out of here and open the highway again.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Biker Paul won't be joining the rush-hour again
0:23:10 > 0:23:13until his injuries are healed but he's had a lucky escape.
0:23:13 > 0:23:18In the heat of an Australian summer, too few bikers wear the right gear
0:23:18 > 0:23:21and many need skin grafts after an accident like this.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27When you see the weather and the scenery, it's not surprising
0:23:27 > 0:23:32that British doctors are following a well-trodden path Down Under.
0:23:32 > 0:23:341.2 million Aussies were born in Britain
0:23:34 > 0:23:37and many more are of British descent.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46100 miles up the coast from Sydney is the Newcastle base
0:23:46 > 0:23:48of the Rescue Helicopter Service.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50The team is sponsored by local businesses
0:23:50 > 0:23:53but also gets funding from the Ministry of Health.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58The man in charge of all the pilots
0:23:58 > 0:24:01and crewmen is a former Royal Navy pilot.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04'I came over to Australia back in 1998.'
0:24:04 > 0:24:07'As a pommy, you're brought up seeing it as a place of opportunity'
0:24:07 > 0:24:10and the climate, you can see from the climate here,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13and for those of your guys who've flown with us,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16they see it as the best cockpit in the world, the best office.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19I love it. I'm now the chief pilot of the rescue service.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23My job is to look after this base, and our base in Tamworth.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26We have four helicopters and it's a great job.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Good team and a great unit to work for.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31Today, Mike's team's been scrambled to rescue a boy
0:24:31 > 0:24:36from an expat British family who's been crushed by a kitchen cabinet.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39He was obviously trying to climb on it.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41From the outside, luckily enough.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45And he pulled it down on top of himself.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47RADIO: Thanks. We're about a minute away
0:24:47 > 0:24:52and just looking at a landing site, we might head for the sports field.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54Let the car on scene know that.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Local paramedics are bringing the patient to a sports field
0:24:57 > 0:24:59where the chopper can land.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04- Hello.- How are you?- How are we? - Lots of doctors, hey?- Good.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07This is Tamara, Jesse's mum.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Tamara was in another room, heard a loud bang, came out
0:25:10 > 0:25:12and Jesse was on his back underneath a cupboard,
0:25:12 > 0:25:15- probably about 30 kilo. - JESSE SOBS
0:25:15 > 0:25:17He's complaining of right maxilla pains,
0:25:17 > 0:25:23- with the swelling around there. - Can I have a look at your lip? Hey?
0:25:23 > 0:25:26- How old are you?- Say, "four and a half."- Can you hold up fingers?
0:25:26 > 0:25:28- Four and a half.- Good boy. - Four and a half?
0:25:28 > 0:25:33- Have you got a brother or sister? - "I have a twin brother."- Mummy.- OK.
0:25:33 > 0:25:38Is that sore there? Turn your head to look straight up at the roof.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40Jesse Mate's family is in the middle of moving house
0:25:40 > 0:25:45and he was exploring his new home when the accident happened.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47- You keep your eyes open.- Mummy.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Is there any pain in the back here? JESSE SOBS
0:25:50 > 0:25:53- Does that hurt about there? - Does that hurt there?
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Does that hurt where I'm pressing?
0:25:56 > 0:25:59- OK.- Big, brave boy, aren't you? - All right, Jesse.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02We'll wheel you over and you go for a ride in the big helicopter.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Mummy's coming with you.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07Just so you know, we're going to be leaving Clarence Town very shortly
0:26:07 > 0:26:11and we'll be at the John, one patient for A&E about 10:45.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14I heard a bang and Jesse, he's got a twin brother,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16he started screaming, I come straight out
0:26:16 > 0:26:18and the pantry was on top of Jesse
0:26:18 > 0:26:21and there was blood everywhere and I just threw the pantry off him
0:26:21 > 0:26:25and he was knocked out and everything for about a minute.
0:26:25 > 0:26:26At first, I thought he was dead.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30I thought he'd died and it was just...absolutely terrible.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33And then when he started to cry and everything,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36I knew he was going to be all right but I still didn't know, so...yeah.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Yes, if you can get to John Hunter, please, that'd be great.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47- PILOT:- All right, mate.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51The medics are still worried about Jesse's neck and the fact
0:26:51 > 0:26:54he was knocked out could mean he may have a hidden head injury.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57We've got a four-year-old male coming in.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59He's had a 30 kilo pantry fall on top of him.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03Had a LOC of approximately one to two minutes.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06MIKE: 'Most of the team here have children of their own
0:27:06 > 0:27:09'so there's a little bit of added pressure in-built with children
0:27:09 > 0:27:11'that the people want to look after them a bit more
0:27:11 > 0:27:14'so there's a bit more emphasis on achieving the goal.'
0:27:17 > 0:27:18In just ten minutes,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Jesse and his mum are arriving at the equivalent of a major
0:27:21 > 0:27:25trauma centre where he'll have a series of tests and scans.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36The following day, Jesse is out of hospital
0:27:36 > 0:27:40and back with his family helping them move into their new home.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44So, you carry it carefully. You all right? Whoop, sorry, bud.
0:27:44 > 0:27:49- He hasn't suffered any lasting damage.- You all right with that one?
0:27:49 > 0:27:52We were meant to do all the moving and everything the other day
0:27:52 > 0:27:54when Jess had his accident
0:27:54 > 0:27:57and I believe that Jesse has got up to go to the pantry to get
0:27:57 > 0:28:02something to eat and pulled a bit too hard on the door handles
0:28:02 > 0:28:04and because it was empty and everything and hadn't been
0:28:04 > 0:28:08put in properly yet, it had come down and landed on top of him.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11So, it was very scary.
0:28:11 > 0:28:16Um... All that was going through my head was, "He can't die."
0:28:16 > 0:28:18Yep.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21This is going to be your room, boys. Where do you want your box?
0:28:21 > 0:28:27- Over here? Whoop, raahh! - Jesse has British roots.
0:28:27 > 0:28:31His grandma moved to Australia from Portsmouth when she was 19 and
0:28:31 > 0:28:35the family are planning a visit to the UK in the next couple of years.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd