UPDATE! Hunter Footballer Dies in Hospital

BY IAN CROUCH/ OLIVIA DILLON

UPDATE:

The Hunter Rugby League footballer who was was knocked unconscious during a match at Fingal Bay on Saturday has died in hospital. 

The man in his 20s died from his injuries in John Hunter Hospital on Sunday.

He's not yet been publicly named. 

The Aberglasslyn Ants football club has since released a statement and will hold a vigil for the player on Friday.

EARLIER:

A Hunter Rugby League footballer is in a serious condition in hospital after an on-field accident at the weekend.

The man, believed to be in his 20's, was playing for the Aberglasslyn Ants in a match against Fingal Bay on Saturday afternoon when he was knocked unconscious.

He was treated by paramedics at the Fingal Bay ground before being airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital, where he remains in Intensive Care.

 

Two Men Airlifted To Hospital After Separate Accidents In The Upper Hunter

 BY IAN CROUCH

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter has been kept busy overnight and Wednesday morning with serious accidents in the Upper Hunter.

The chopper was called to a bad crash involving a car, a ute and a mobile crane on the Golden Highway at Jerrys Plains just after 7.00am on Wednesday.

A 45-year-old man who was driving the ute suffered serious head injuries after being thrown from the vehicle.

He was airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition for further treatment.

Meanwhile, a 68-year-old man suffered serious burns to his lower limbs after stepping into a drain filled with boiling fatty water at the Scone Abattoir.

The industrial accident happened at the Muffett Street site just before midnight.

The man was stabilised by the Helicopter's Critical Care Team before being flown to the John Hunter Hospital.

Pre-schooler Pulled From Swimming Pool Unconscious

BY IAN CROUCH

A 4-year-old girl has been flown to the John Hunter Hospital after being pulled unconscious from a swimming pool on the state's north coast.

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Coffs Harbour Hospital just after 7.00pm on Monday after the little girl was found in a local swimming pool.

It's understood CPR was performed on the little girl before she was taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital by Ambulance paramedics.

The John Hunter Hospital Medical Retrieval Team stabilised the girl's condition and she was placed on life support in an induced coma before being airlifted to Newcastle for further treatment.

The little girl's father travelled with her to Newcastle.

Man Impaled On Fencing Machinery At Lovedale

 BY IAN CROUCH

A 70-year-old man is in a serious but stable condition in the John Hunter Hospital after becoming impaled on fencing equipment he was using near Cessnock.

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called to a property at Lovedale on Sunday afternoon.

The aircraft Critical Care Paramedic and a Doctor performed a delicate procedure at the scene to remove the man from the machinery.

He was flown to hospital with abdominal injuries.

Meanwhile, the rescue helicopter was called to Denman where a 10-year-old boy had suffered suspected head and neck injuries after falling from a motorbike.

He was flown to the John Hunter in a stable condition.

And, the chopper crew were called to a property at Cassilis on Saturday where a 38-year-old man had suffered back, shoulder and head injuries after falling from a horse which then rolled on top of him.

5-Year-Old Boy Attacked By Family Dog At Sunshine

 BY IAN CROUCH

 A 5-year-old boy is undergoing surgery after being attacked by the family dog at Sunshine in Lake Macquarie.

Police say the incident happened at a home on Sunshine Parade just before 4.30pm on Sunday.

The boy suffered bite wounds to the left side of his neck.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics before being flown to the Westmead Children's Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in a stable condition.

Police have been told the two-year-old Rottweiler will be euthanised.

Inquiries are continuing.

 

 

Man "Sheepish" And "Remorseful" After Midnight Swim Sparks Search on Newcastle Harbour

 BY IAN CROUCH

 Police have described a midnight swim in Newcastle Harbour which sparked a major search as a foolish act.

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter along with police, ambulance paramedics and Marine Rescue personnel were called in after the man was seen diving in the water off Queens Wharf just before midnight on Saturday and didn't resurface.

The helicopter crew conducted a visual search for more than an hour using night vision goggles.

The man was eventually found safe inside his Stockton home, completely unaware of the massive search effort.

Police say he was sheepish and remorseful - they suspect alcohol may have played a part in his decision.

A Police launch scours Newcastle Harbour for the missing swimmer

Woman Airlifted To Hospital After M1 Crash At Morisset

 BY IAN CROUCH

 A woman is recovering in the John Hunter Hospital after a bad crash at Morisset.

The woman was heading north on the M1 Pacific Motorway at about 7.00am on Wednesday when her car overturned.

Traffic diversions were in place for more than an hour while emergency services attended the crash near Mandalong Road. 

A 37-year-old woman was treated at the scene before being flown to the John Hunter Hospital by the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter in a stable condition suffering arm fractures.

 

 

BREAKING! Rescue Helicopter Transporting Premature Twins To John Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter has been called to Stockton to rendezvous with two ambulances transporting a set of twins born prematurely on Monday morning at Tanilba Bay

The chopper's Critical Care Medical Team have been flown in to Stockton to meet the two ambulances. The team has split up to travel with each of the twins to the John Hunter Hospital who are reported to be in a critical condition.

The Rescue Helicopter was also called to two remote walking trails over the weekend to rescue injured walkers .

They were sent to the Yaccaba Trail near Hawks Nest on Saturday afternoon, where a 62-year-old man had seriously injured his legs in a fall.

He was winched to safety before being flown to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

A 63-year-old woman had to be winched from a track near Martindale on Sunday after suffering a knee injury.

And, a 13-year-old boy has been flown to the John Hunter for specialist treatment after coming off his bike on a property at Carrol near Gunnedah and hitting a barbed wire fence at 80 kilometres per hour.

He suffered multiple injuries and lacerations in the crash.

Man Suffers Serous Hand Injury In Farming Mishap Near Dungog

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is nursing serious injuries to his hand after a farming accident near Dungog.

The 50-year-old was working on his property at Mount Rivers about 40 kilometres west of Dungog early Sunday morning when he got his fingers caught in a pump.

A local ambulance paramedic treated the man prior to the arrival of the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Critical Care Medical Team.

He was flown to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious but stable condition with serious injuries to his finger and hand.

Meanwhile, the rescue helicopter has flown a 31-year-old man to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition after he fell from his trail bike in the Nundle State Forest about 10 kilometres east of Nundle in the state's northwest.

Paramedics were called to the forest just before midday on Sunday where they found the man suffering serous leg injuries.

He was further treated and stabilised by the Critical Care Medical Team from the rescue chopper before being flown to Newcastle.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter on scene in the Nundle State Forest

Boy Hit By Mini Bus At Gosford

BY IAN CROUCH

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter has flown a 12-year-old boy to hospital after he was hit by a mini bus at Gosford.

Police say the boy was riding his bike at the intersection on the Central Coast Highway and Riou Street at about 4.20pm on Thursday when he was struck by a 12-seater Toyota Coaster bus.

The boy suffered head injures and was airlifted to Westmead Children's Hospital in a stable condition.

A 59-year-old man who was driving the bus was taken to Gosford Hospital for mandatory testing.

Paramedics prepare to transfer the boy onto the Westpac Rescue Helicopter

Teenage Girl Stable After Cliff Fall At Catherine Hill Bay

BY IAN CROUCH

A teenage girl is nursing multiple injuries and fractures after falling from a cliff at Catherine Hill Bay.

The 17-year-old was jumping from the cliff into the water yesterday afternoon when she lost her footing and fell up to 15 metres onto rocks.

She was treated at the scene before being flown to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

The Hunter's Westpac Chopper landed near the cliff top at Catherine Hill Bay:-

Meanwhile, a 40-year-old man has been flown to the Royal North Shore Hospital Burns Unit after a burnoff went horribly wrong at his Kitchener property on Friday night.

He was using accelerant on the fire when it caught alight leaving him with serious burns.

And, the chopper flew two 12-year-old boys to Tamworth Base Hospital after they crashed into each other on motorbikes at a property about 10 kilometres north of Blandford on Saturday afternoon.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Called To Serious Crash on the Central Coast

BY IAN CROUCH

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter has airlifted an injured woman to the John Hunter Hospital after a bad crash on the Central Coast last night.

Emergency services were called to reports of a single vehicle crash on Bumble Hill Road at Yarramalong just before 7.30pm on Thursday.

The sole occupant, a 68-year-old woman, was trapped and suffering from serious injuries.

She was cut free and stabilised before being airlifted to hospital.

Earlier, the chopper was called to a property at Booral south of Stroud where they flew a 54-year-old  woman to the John Hunter with serious chest and pelvic injuries after she was kicked by a horse.

Woman Winched From Rock Fall At Hawks Nest

BY IAN CROUCH

A woman is recovering in the John Hunter Hospital after falling on rocks and injuring her ankle at Hawks Nest.

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter was called to the nearby headland just before 5.30pm on Monday.

Paramedics were winched down to the 29-year-old and stabilised her condition before she was winched on board the chopper and flown to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

The injured woman is winched on board the Westpac Rescue Helicopter at Haws Nest

Emergency Services Called To Several Serious Crashes In The Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH

Emergency services have been kept busy with several serious crashes on Hunter roads overnight.

A 20-year-old woman has been airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in an induced coma with spinal injuries after the car she was a passenger in, crashed into a tree on Bushells Ridge Road at Wyee.

The 25-year-old male driver was also taken to hospital.

A 3 car crash also caused traffic delays on the Hunter Expressway near John Renshaw Drive.

Meanwhile, a 29-year-old man suffered head injuries when his car crashed into a power pole at the intersection of Withers Street and Fegan Street, West Wallsend just after 9.30pm on Thursday.

He was trapped for a short time before being released and taken to the John Hunter is a serious condition.

And a 28-year-old man has been charged with mid range drink driving after crashing his car into a stationary caravan on Tibbin Street at Kahibah.

Emergency Services and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter at the scene of a serious crash at Wyee

Distressed Teenage Surfer Rescued At Redhead Beach.

BY IAN CROUCH

A teenage surfer has been rescued after being swept out to sea at Redhead Beach.

Two 17-year-old boys entered the water at about 6.00pm on Tuesday and became separated in the large swell.

One of the boys returned to shore but the other was heard calling for help after losing his board and being swept out to sea.

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter found him about 500 metres from shore and winched him on board - he'd been in the water for about 45 minutes.

The boy was treated for exhaustion at the beach carpark before being taken to the John Hunter Hospital as a precaution.

“Had it not been for the swift response of emergency services, we could have had an extremely tragic event here today,” said Inspector Cheryl Day from Lake Macquarie Police District.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter winched the boy on board and flew him back to the Redhead Beach carpark

BREAKING! Crash Blocks New England Highway South of Muswellbrook

BY IAN CROUCH

Emergency services have been called to a serious crash on the New England Highway south of Muswellbrook.

A vehicle overturned near the intersection of Hebden Road at Ravensworth just before 5.00am on Thursday, blocking the highway in both directions.

A 20-year-old man has been released from the vehicle - he's suffered a deep head wound and a suspected broken right arm.

It's understood the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter has also been called to the scene.

Woman Injured in Highway Crash

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

A woman has been flown to hospital with multiple injuries following a single vehicle crash south of Wingen in the Upper Hunter.

The 26-year-old's car crashed into a rock wall while travelling on the New England Highway north of Scone around 11 o'clock Wednesday morning.

The New England Highway was closed for some time to allow the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to land on the highway nearby.

She was treated on scene by Ambulance Paramedics before being flown to the John Hunter Hospital with head and chest injuries.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service reports the woman is in a serious but stable condition.

One Dead And Two Injured In Separate Hunter Valley Crashes

BY IAN CROUCH

A report is being prepared for the Coroner after a man died in a single car crash at Scone.

The 66-year-old was driving a Mazda 3 on Noblet Street just after 4.00pm on Monday when the car travelled onto a dirt access road and hit a tree.

The man was treated at the scene before being taken to Scone Hospital where he died a short time later.

Meanwhile, a couple in their 50's suffered serious multiple injuries when their motorbike collided with the rear of a trailer being towed by another vehicle on the Golden Highway at Jerrys Plains.

The crash happened just before 3.30pm on Monday, with the rider and pillion passenger flown to the John Hunter Hospital by the Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

BREAKING! Westpac Rescue Helicopter Called To Serious Crash At Hexham

BY IAN CROUCH

The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter has been called to a serious crash at Hexham.

A truck has collided with a motorbike in the southbound lanes of Maitland Road near the BP Service Station.

It's believed the bike was dragged underneath the truck for some distance.

Paramedics are treating the 21-year-old male rider at the scene.

It's believed he's suffered multiple fractures but he is conscious and breathing and is about to freed and flown to hospital.

Para-glider Survives Crash At Merewether

A para-glider has sustained non-life-threatening injuries after a crash at Newcastle

About 3pm (Wednesday 31 July 2019), a 75-year-old man launched his para-glider from Hickson Street, Merewether.

Shortly after, the pilot has crash landed and at 4pm, emergency services were called to the scene.

Officers from Newcastle City Police Area Command attended, with NSW Ambulance paramedics, Fire and Rescue NSW and the Westpac rescue helicopter.

Due to the remote location and steep gradient of the landscape, a critical care doctor assessed the pilot at the crash site and he was airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

The pilot sustained non-life-threatening injuries including a collapsed lung, rib fractures, a spinal fracture and a pelvic fracture. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Police officers and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will continue investigations to understand the cause of the crash.