A ruptured heart and a race against time: Robert's story

For Robert Wendl and his wife Katerina, life in the remote NT community of Borroloola, 1,000km southeast of Darwin, offers peace, solitude and a deep sense of purpose.

But isolation also means that medical emergencies can quickly become life-or-death situations, as Robert discovered one morning in July 2024.

“I was woken up by this incredible pain. I couldn't breathe or at least that that's how it felt,” Robert said.

“I tried to convince myself I was fine, but Katerina insisted on taking me to the local Borroloola clinic.

“They took x-rays and tests and it became clear that something was serious. I was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital and was told I needed another urgent flight. That’s when they rang the Royal Flying Doctor Service.”

Robert was suffering an aortic dissection – a rare and often deadly condition that occurs when there is a tear in the wall of the aorta (the body’s main artery), compromising blood flow to the heart and vital organs.

In a race against time, Robert now needed life-saving surgery – and the closest city with the specialist team and facilities available to respond to Robert’s condition was Adelaide – almost 3,000km away.

Watch the video above for the full story.