CareFlight Lands First Fixed-Wing Mission in Mamadawerre to Assist Injured Visitor
CareFlight has marked a significant milestone in its aeromedical operations, completing its first fixed-wing aircraft landing in Mamadawerre. Known to be one of the Northern Territory’s most remote communities, the tasking was to assist a woman who sustained a serious ankle injury while walking through rugged terrain.
The woman was walking through rocky terrain when she slipped and broke her ankle. With no way to call for help, she crawled for 25 minutes along a dry riverbed to reach others in the community.
Local rangers responded with remarkable bush ingenuity, applying traditional bush medicine techniques to stabilise the injury. Using paperbark shaped into a splint — a practice passed down through generations — they provided first aid until CareFlight could arrive.
Operating the Top End Medical Retrieval Service on behalf of the Northern Territory Government, CareFlight’s crew landed their fixed-wing aircraft on Mamadawerre’s dirt airstrip. With limited infrastructure available, the team converted the local school into a temporary treatment centre, where CareFlight’s specialist medical crew assessed and stabilised the patient before transporting her to Royal Darwin Hospital for further medical care.
“This mission really highlights the strength of community and the importance of timely aeromedical support in remote areas,” said CareFlight Registrar Doctor Nick Spencer.
“From the rangers’ resourceful use of traditional first aid to the crew’s coordinated efforts, it was a beautiful example of teamwork and resilience — and a proud first for CareFlight’s fixed-wing operations in Mamadawerre, he concluded.”
CareFlight continues to provide critical aeromedical services across the Northern Territory, ensuring even the most isolated communities have access to emergency care.