A Patient's Story…

Four-year-old Grace Angel suffered horrific injuries when she was attacked by a rooster on the family farm near Mudgee. Her chin, back and throat were severely lacerated, and her trachea perforated by the rooster's spur. Grace struggled to breathe as her face, neck, back and chest began to swell: she had subcutaneous emphysema and a partially collapsed lung.

She was flown first by helicopter to Orange, and then by fixed wing air ambulance to Sydney. On both flights she was under the care of an NRMA CareFlight trauma specialist who was prepared to perform an emergency surgical procedure should she suffer complete airway obstruction. After spending five days in hospital Grace went home, and she has subsequently made a full recovery.