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Baby suffered head injury in golf buggy crash

on Posted in Australia.

Baby sufferd head injury in golf buggy crash

The Courier-Mail

March 11, 2016

The twisted buggy wreckage. Picture: RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service

A MOTHER and her baby girl are fighting for their lives after suffering critical injuries in a golf buggy crash on Hamilton Island that injured nine people.

Picture: Zak Simmonds

A patient arrives in a helicopter at Townsville hospital after a crash on Hamilton Island.

It is understood a nine-month-old girl, who sustained critical head injuries, was sitting on her mother’s lap while her family were being driven to the island’s airport by a local employee.

Police said the other injured passengers included four adults, one toddler and another infant.

The golf buggy, which was towing a luggage trailer, crashed into a parked golf cart on the Great Northern Highway about 8.20am yesterday. The passengers were believed to have been from two families who had been holidaying together.

Inspector Steve O’Connell described the scene of the accident as chaotic.

“There was about 40 people providing paramedic, doctor and first-aid care to the people injured,’’ Insp O’Connell said.

“It was very chaotic, particularly with the small children involved.”

The nine-month-old was flown to the Townsville Hospital with her mother, who suffered lower limb fractures and a head injury. Both were in a critical condition last night, a spokesman said.

A man, 37, with facial injuries was taken to the Mackay Base Hospital, along with another man, 66, who had multiple leg injuries, a Queensland Health spokeswoman said.

A couple were taken by water police to Proserpine Hospital with their 10-month-old daughter, who had a fractured leg, and their three-year-old son .

Police said they seized the buggy and the luggage trailer for mechanical inspection as the forensic crash unit investigates.

Picture: Wesley Monts

The chopper carrying a 10 month old girl and an elderly woman landed in Townsville after a buggy crash on Hamilton Island.

Golf buggies are the main mode of transportation around the island, with information on the destination’s website stating buggies are available for hire or are complimentary for some guests.

“Maximum capacity of golf buggies is four people (two people on two-seater buggies) – full driver’s licence essential and security bond required,” the website reads.

In a statement, Hamilton Island management said it was “working closely with Queensland police to investigate the incident”.

There have been previous incidents involving the golf carts on the island, including the death of a six-year-old boy after he was thrown from a cart in 2008

The twisted buggy wreckage. Picture: RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service

EARLIER: Pictures have emerged of an incident where a baby was seriously injured during a crash involving two golf buggies on Hamilton Island this morning.

The photos appear to show a six-seater golf cart, which was towing a luggage trailer, lying on top of another smaller golf cart.

Police said at least nine people were treated for injuries after the golf buggy crashed into a parked vehicle on the Great Northern Highway about 8.20am today. It is believed an employee was transporting guests to the airport on the island when the incident occurred.

In a statement released this afternoon, RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service said two of the patients they transported to Mackay Hospital were tourists from the United Kingdom.

They were a 36-year-old male with possible spinal and neck injuries, and a 60-year-old male with a suspected fractured leg and lacerations, the statement read.

PREVIOUSLY: Police have confirmed they are investigating an incident where a baby was critically injured when a golf buggy crashed on Hamilton Island.

At least nine people were treated for injuries after the golf buggy crashed into a parked vehicle on the Great Northern Highway about 8.20am today, police said.

“The golf buggy was carrying eight passengers, including five adults, one toddler and two infants,” police said in a statement.

A nine-month-old girl who suffered serious head injuries was airlifted to Townsville Base Hospital with her mother, who suffered minor injuries, police said.

Two other occupants - a man who suffered leg injuries, and a woman who suffered back injuries - were airlifted to the Mackay Base Hospital.

“The female driver and remaining passengers, two men, a boy and a baby girl have been transported to Proserpine Hospital for treatment of minor injuries and observation,” the police statement said.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.

EARLIER: A BABY is believed to be among five patients who are in a critical condition after two golf buggies crashed on a tropical island off Queensland’s central coast, paramedics say.

Queensland ambulance paramedic Wayne Paxton said the baby - thought to be between eight and ten months old - received a critical head injury during the incident on Hamilton Island today.

“At this stage I believe it’s a quite serious head injury that’s been incubated by the medical team that’s down there,” Mr Paxton said.

He explained the infant, along with 67-year-old woman who was in a critical but stable condition with a lower leg injury, would be flown to the Townsville Base Hospital for treatment.

A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said there were eight patients, including a man who collapsed after witnessing the incident, when paramedics attended the crash on Front St in Hamilton Island about 8.20am today.

That figure has since been revised up to nine patients.

The spokeswoman said two other patients would be flown to Mackay hospital while four patients would be taken by water police to Proserpine hospital.

The man who was said to have collapsed was treated at the scene for shock.

In a statement released today, Hamilton Island confirmed nine patients were injured when a six-seater and a four-seater golf buggy crashed.

“Hamilton Island is working closely with Queensland Police to investigate the incident,” the statement read.

Golf buggies are the main mode of transportation around the island, with information on the destination’s website detailing that: “Buggies are available for hire on an hourly, half-day or daily basis, or are provided complimentary for Holiday Home, Yacht Club Villa and qualia guests.”

“Maximum capacity of golf buggies is four people (two people on two-seater buggies) – full drivers licence essential and security bond required,” the website reads.

It is understood the job was tasked after a paramedic at a nearby ambulance station was made aware of the incident.

PATIENTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE:

Proserpine hospital

31-year-old female

45-year-old male

Nine-month-old female

Three-year-old

Townsville hospital

67-year-old female with a lower limb injury

10-month-old female with critical head injuries

Mackay hospital

36-year-old male with back injuries

67-year-old male with leg injuries

EARLIER: AN eight-month-old baby is among five patients who are in a serious condition after two golf buggies collided on Hamilton Island this morning.

A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said there were eight patients, including a man who collapsed after witnessing the incident, when paramedics attended the crash on Front St in Hamilton Island about 8.20am today.

The spokeswoman said the Mackay Careflight and the Townsville CQ Air choppers were already on scene to airlift patients while the Rockhampton Careflight chopper was currently en route.

It is understood the five patients who are in a serious condition will be flown off the popular tourist destination, located near Whitsunday Island.

According to the Queensland Ambulance Service, the patients include:

- An eight-month-old baby reported to have received a fractured leg and facial injuries

- An 18-month-old toddler in an “altered state of consciousness”

- A 40-year-old male believed to have two fractured legs

- A 30-year-old reportedly with a fractured leg

- A male with a hand laceration and a chest injury

- A male who collapsed after witnessing the incident

In 2009 there were 46 buggy crashes on Hamilton Island.