Floods Anniversary: the Nevett family from Tewantin thank rescuers
Posted on 16-Jan-2012
Baby Pippa with parents Christian and Louise Nevett ©Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service
A baby girl who might never have celebrated her first birthday popped into our hangar at the Sunshine Coast Airport to thank the AGL Action Rescue Helicopter for the role it played in saving her life.
A year ago (11 Jan 2012) little Pippa Nevett was born, but her right lung collapsed shortly afterwards and in the hours which followed her fight for life became critical.
She needed acute medical care which could only be offered at the Royal Brisbane Children's Hospital but Brisbane was in the grip of flood. The Bruce Highway was cut, water was lapping at the Hospital door and its car park was underwater.
Pippa was transferred from the Sunshine Coast Private Hospital to Nambour General where the AGL Action Rescue Helicopter carrying a specialist paediatric doctor and nurse swooped to her rescue. The mercy flight left shortly after midnight on January 13. Her mother Louise followed by road ambulance when the flood waters cleared. She told the Sunshine Coast Daily that she had no doubt that Pippa owed her life to the rescue helicopter, "There was no other way to get to Brisbane, said Mrs Nevett.
AGL Action Rescue Helicopter crewman Scott Reeman remembers the day vividly, as he recounted to reporter Kathy Sundstrom from the Sushine Coast Daily, "She was so little. And she had all those tubes. You feel for the parents," said Scott. His own son Henry was only 10 months old at the time, "All around Caboolture the roads were flooded. We were able to fly to the hospital in 25 minutes, it would have taken at least four hours by road - and then ony if we could get through."
The full reality of the dire situation they had faced only hit home when Pippa's mum watched the flood scenes to commemorate the first anniversary. "At the time it was so surreal, said Mrs Nevett, "but seeing how the flood waters were on television had a bigger impact."
©John Mccutcheon courtesy of Sunshine Coast Daily
Three weeks later this courageous baby girl finally came home, joining her father Christian and sister Milly at their Tewantin home.
The Nevett family met Chief Pilot Brent Chamberlain and Aircrewman Scott Reeman to thank them for saving their little girl.
Pippa was also presented with a special AGL Action Rescue Helicopter teddy bear.
“Choppa” the pilot bear and “Stewie” the crew bear are also available for the public to purchase (and will soon be available online at our new webshop!). Each bear helps support the service and also keeps the helicopter in stock of bears. A teddy is given to the sick and injured children airlifted by the Service to help comfort them at a time of distress.
The AGL Action Rescue Helicopter is a not-for-profit emergency medical and rescue helicopter service, and is reliant on sponsorship and community donations to help meet its annual running costs and continue flying. Mr and Mrs Nevett used the anniversary of their daughter's airlift to make a contribution to the helicopter service. "You don't realise how valuable the service is until you need it, Mrs Nevett told reporters.
You too can DONATE NOW by clicking on this link.
The Nevett family with crewman Scott Reeman © Sunshine Coast Helicopter Rescue Service
