Arabic version: مقيمة في كانبرا تخشى حطام مهبط طائرات المستشفى

According to ABC News, Canberra resident Grozdana Barisic says her life has been disrupted since a road work sign was swept into the air by a helicopter near Canberra Hospital. The 80-year-old, who has lived across the road from the hospital for 22 years, said the sign missed her by about 20 centimetres while she was in her front yard in June 2025.

Barisic said she now goes under cover when she hears helicopter blades, including when she is working outside with her garage open. She said being in her garden is no longer the same and that moving house is not an option because of her age. She reported the incident to the hospital but said she had not heard back more than a year later.

Freedom of information documents show Canberra Health Services received her report in June 2025. The documents recorded her concern that she had experienced helicopter-related issues before but that this incident had nearly caused serious injury. Required actions included reviewing and investigating the feedback and contacting Barisic to discuss and resolve her concerns. An email dated June 2026 stated that the complaint had been resolved in June or July 2025.

The documents also detailed other helipad-related debris incidents. In June 2025, a fabric fire hose reel cover came loose during take-off, narrowly missing the aircraft’s rotors before landing in an adjacent courtyard. A 50-centimetre section of aerial was dislodged during another take-off in May 2025. In October 2024, loose cladding below the helideck led to a halt on landings and take-offs while repairs were carried out.

A Canberra Health Services spokesperson said proactive steps had been taken to address every issue raised. The spokesperson said the service worked with aeromedical providers and infrastructure teams to identify and respond promptly to safety and operational concerns, and took helipad safety and security seriously.