Sarawak dialysis patient’s rescue shows why the Flying Doctor Service matters
Following a fatal helicopter crash in Sarawak, a dialysis patient was successfully airlifted to Miri Hospital by the Bomba rescue service. The incident has highlighted the critical importance of the Flying Doctor Service for rural communities with limited medical access.
Why it matters
The event underscores the vital role of emergency medical aviation in providing life-saving care to remote and underserved populations.
KUCHING, Sept 12 — When a helicopter crashed just 200 metres from her home in Long Lellang, Renai Iwat was not only confronted with the trauma of losing a vital link to medical care, but also another race against time.
The dialysis patient, who requires treatment three times a week, needed to return to Miri after the Long Lellang STOLport was closed following Tuesday’s tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of four medical personnel and a pilot.
Amid the grief and uncertainty, her family turned to the authorities for help.
Renai was eventually airlifted from Long Lellang to Miri Hospital on Thursday (Sept 10) by a Bomba helicopter, allowing her to resume the treatment on which she depends.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in