Geraldton to Get Off-Road Ambulance, But Fears for Areas 'Left Behind'

Geraldton is set to receive its first four-wheel-drive ambulance, a move welcomed by the family of a teenager who was paralyzed in a motorcycle crash in an off-road area. The Toyota HiAce four-wheel-drive ambulance will be positioned in the coastal city in October, joining seven others around regional Western Australia.

A Long-Awaited Response

The Hipper family has been advocating for the emergency vehicle since James Hipper, then 17, broke his neck and spine in a motorcycle crash at Geraldton sand dunes last year. An ambulance was unable to reach the accident, which was about a kilometer from the entrance to the dunes.

Instead, his sister Serenity Thorley, then 22, acted as a first responder. "We were so far in dunes, we knew that no one was coming," she said. "It was pretty daunting."

Ms Thorley and other young bystanders used a swag to lift James onto the back of a ute, and she held his head still as they drove to hard ground to meet the paramedics. "Just the thought that one wrong move, had I not held him over a bump well enough, I could have lost him then and there," Ms Thorley said.

Concerns for Areas 'Left Behind'

While the new 4WD ambulance is positive news for Geraldton, concerns remain about responses to emergencies in the wider Midwest region. Mount Magnet Shire president Jorgen Jensen said that while most gravel roads were in "fairly good" condition, the large road network was susceptible to damage, making it difficult to traverse.

"A four-wheel-drive ambulance would be invaluable," Cr Jensen said. "It's really just another example of something that is needed and probably is going to take too long to adequately service."

Cr Jensen said the region missed out on many essential services, including medical support. "I think the Midwest is a good area that gets probably a little bit left behind in some aspects, especially the outer Midwest," he said.

St John WA said it continually reviews its regional fleet requirements, taking into account operational demand, geography, and local conditions. A state government spokesperson said there were 28 WA Country Health Service ambulances across the Kimberley, Pilbara, and Midwest.

"Locations are chosen based on geography, population distribution, road conditions, and health service need," the spokesperson said.