Community & Business
1 October, 2025
Vital service needs help
SEVEN-year-old Asher and her family will never forget how the Royal Flying Doctor Service came to their rescue and, now, they are asking all of us to support the vital service.
On a sailing holiday in Far North Queensland, Asher’s parents Ryan and Niki pulled what they thought was a dead shark from a crab pot. In an instant, it thrashed to life, its razor-sharp teeth cutting deep into Asher’s knee.
“When we realised her pants had been cut through and there was blood, we bandaged it straight away,” mum Niki said.
“My biggest worry was whether we’d even be able to reach Lockhart River because the weather was so bad. We had to anchor our vessel offshore, take the tinny in, and try to do a beach landing in big waves while carrying Asher.
“I can remember standing out in the water holding the tinny, while my husband Ryan carried Asher to the ambulance on the beach, trying not to think about all the crocodiles we’d seen in the days before.”
At the Lockhart River clinic, a nurse phoned the RFDS. RFDS Medical Officer Dr Davina Pereira recalls seeing a photo of the injury.
“I could see the gash was deep, right across her knee joint. Any wound like that, especially from tropical waters, is at extreme risk of infection. Left untreated, it could lead to sepsis – and the loss of a limb,” Dr Davina said.
Within hours, the RFDS flew Asher more than 700km to Cairns Hospital. Soon after arriving, she collapsed when doctors discovered a punctured artery. Immediate surgery saved her life.
“We were travelling by boat. Even if we could have tried to drive a motor vehicle, it would have been 10 hours with her injury getting worse,” Niki said.
“I don’t want to think about what might have happened. “We are forever grateful the Flying Doctor saved our little girl.”
The community can show their support for the RFDS this month through an annual fitness challenge, “Oceans to Outback” which invites supporters to walk, run or ride and, at the same time, raise vital funds for the service.
Oceans to Outback begins on 1 October. Sign up today and set your distance goal. Every kilometre you log and every dollar you raise helps keep the Flying Doctor flying and ready for the next emergency.
Register now at www.oceanstooutback.org.au
