Patient Stories | RFDS SA/NT | Royal Flying Doctor Service

Real patients. Real stories >

A risk of rupture and a race against time

As time ticked by, Robert had a tight window to travel 3,000km across the country for life-saving surgery.

Desert dinner drama

When Josh felt his lip start to swell up at an outback pub, he knew his life was at risk.

A breath of hope

As an opal miner, Matt has seen his share of adversity, but he could never have prepared for the fear of losing his baby girl.

An outback nightmare >

29-year-old Lil woke up covered in blood on a remote NT cattle station. The RFDS was there when she needed it most.

An outback nightmare: Lil's story

A close shave

While working on a remote SA station’s homestead, Ash was flung from his motorbike, knocking him unconscious. As the adrenaline and shock waned, the pain came.

When ritual meets rescue

A cultural ceremony in Far North SA took an unexpected turn when Robert began experiencing extreme pain in his abdomen.

A real kick in the face

23-year-old Amy Kynoch was going about her work as a station hand at Lucy Creek Station, NT when she was knocked out cold.

RFDS Medi-Jet 24 highway landing | Glendambo SA

Highway jet landing >

In 2023, the RFDS performed a world-first aeromedical jet landing on a stretch of remote South Australian highway.

RFDS Medi-Jet 24 | Outback highway landing

Small patient, big complications

More than a thousand kilometres stood between young mum Ratna Wilis and the hospital that could help her newborn son.

Brought back to life... twice

Richard thought he’d lost the love of his life when his partner Colleen’s heart stopped not once, but twice, in the middle of the night – in the middle of the outback.

Old scars, new strength

Traumatic injuries can have long-lasting effects and for remote NT resident Sandy Abley, the Flying Doctor was there to support her full journey to physical and emotional recovery.

Emergency outback retrieval >

Go behind the scenes with the Flying Doctor on an outback mission to get young patient Tyler to safety and care.

Remote NT retrieval: behind the scenes

Protecting a special pocket of Australia

Stationed at the intersection of Australia’s three central deserts, the challenges of accessing health care loom large for staff at Kalamurina Wildlife Sanctuary.

Highway to help

Tony Hudson rolled his car on the Nullarbor Plain, which triggered a unique RFDS rescue.

Five times revived

On a searing summer day, South Australian opal miner Richard Hawkins fell victim to extreme dehydration and his heart stopped.

In hot water >

Cowboy Louis was enjoying his fourth year at a station in remote NT when a freak accident struck.

In hot water: Louis' story

Out of breath, out of nowhere

Shannon was 1,000 kilometres from home and unable to breathe - her first potentially fatal asthma attack.

Chopper crash comeback

Alex was living the dream as a helicopter tour pilot at Uluru, until an engine failure changed his life forever.

Healthy smiles, happy lives

At the base of Uluru, the Flying Doctor is working together with the Aboriginal Community of Mutitjulu to promote healthy smiles and happy lives.

Down to the wire

A devastating fall from a ladder while on a job 540km north of Adelaide became a race against time for carpenter Richy.

Badly broken, barely breathing

When Phil's motorbike adventure went horribly wrong in the middle of outback Australia, his friends at the scene feared the worst.

Rural mum's rare scare

Pregnant with her second child, Anna Nunn was busy working on Wooltana Station in SA’s Far North when she received a distressing diagnosis.

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