Arabic version: العائلة تجمع التبرعات لخدمة LifeFlight بعد نجاتها من حادث الطالب

Lucy Scott, a medical student who survived a serious vehicle accident on her family’s cattle property, is now advocating for the aeromedical rescue organization LifeFlight, which played a crucial role in her rescue. According to ABC News, Lucy was injured when the vehicle she and her partner were traveling in hit a pothole and rolled, resulting in two fractured vertebrae in her neck.

After the crash, Lucy’s partner Jethro Tessan had to leave her on the roadside to seek help, as they were 50 kilometers from Roma without any phone service. Upon reaching her family home, Lucy’s mother, Kate Scott, who has volunteered for LifeFlight for years, called emergency services. A LifeFlight helicopter arrived within 45 minutes, providing critical care that may have saved Lucy’s life.

Lucy was subsequently flown to Toowoomba Hospital, where her spinal injury was monitored until she could go into surgery. Since LifeFlight’s South West hub in Roma has seen a significant increase in demand, it is currently facing a funding shortfall. LifeFlight Community Engagement Coordinator Lisa Bertolotti noted that the service is projected to have a 70-hour shortfall this year.

To address this funding gap, the Roma Saleyards are hosting the CashCow fundraising initiative throughout June, allowing local farmers to donate a percentage of their sales to support LifeFlight. So far, the initiative has raised $20,000, with two sale days remaining this month. Lucy’s family emphasizes the importance of community support to maintain the vital air ambulance service in the region.

Despite her injuries, Lucy has resumed her studies in medicine on the Gold Coast and aspires to work in retrieval medicine, inspired by the life-saving impact of LifeFlight. She reflects on her experience, stating that the help she received was life-changing and aims to provide similar support to others in the future.