Four major incidents prompting helicopter rescue missions have occurred across the region in the last five days.
The most recent incident involving a 30-year-old Bundarra man who was flown to Tamworth hospital suffering gunshot wounds on Tuesday morning.
A spokesperson from Westpac Rescue Helicopter service said the incident was an accident and the victim was in a stable condition.
“He was accidentally shot in the arm and the bullet travelled through into his abdomen,” the spokesperson said.
He was accidentally shot in the arm and the bullet travelled through into his abdomen.
- Westpac Rescue Helicopter spokesperson
In another incident, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked to a motorcycle accident on a property at Thalgarrah, northeast of Armidale on Monday.
The 48-year-old male was transported to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney suffering suspected spinal injuries.
On Friday, a 69-year-old man was airlifted to hospital after he was gouged by a bull at the Thunderbolts Rodeo in Uralla.
The victim, Jim Olive, was flown to Tamworth Hospital suffering serious chest and abdominal injuries after he was bailed up against a rail by a beast in the yards.
Friend and witness, Adam Hone said the accident occurred while Mr Olive was preparing the animals out the back of the Top Pub.
“He was moving some rodeo bulls and the grass was a bit wet and dewy,” Mr Hone said.
“He slipped on a bit of grass and the bull roughed him up a bit.
“He was still in good humour … he is in good condition and I think they’re just taking every precaution.”
The same day while the Tamworth chopper was in the air, a separate incident saw another aircraft, which had to be tasked from Newcastle, rescue a 43-year-old male who had fallen four metres from a ladder in Armidale.
The man was flown to John Hunter Hospital suffering head and back injuries and was reported to be in a serious condition.
