The Flying Doctor
Royal Flying Doctor Service
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Australia is a large, remote, and unforgiving land where accidents happen. In this podcast, we talk to real patients and their families about mateship, life in the bush, and the role that the Royal Flying Doctor Service plays in servicing rural communities.
Available episodes
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Oldest first
6 days ago
How did they discover and save Peter, when he suffered a crippling stroke?
On arriving on his remote island property, Peter Woolford became acutely unwell and collapsed with a stroke, paralysed on the kitchen floor and unable to reach the landline to call for help.
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Jun 8, 2022
Flight nurse Brendan Devlin has seen it all over his 30-year career
Walk in the shoes of Brendan who has seen and experienced the good, bad and ugly while on the job.
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Jun 1, 2022
How do you land an RFDS plane in the dark in the Outback?
RFDS Broken Hill pilot Dave gives insight into his day to day work and answers your questions.
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May 25, 2022
A ute rolls on a remote dirt road in South Australia
Karina Sheehan and her husband came across the flipped and crushed ute, with her son and his girlfriend thrown from the vehicle...
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May 18, 2022
How does Paul survive a horrible mountain bike accident in remote WA?
Paul Fiddes was tearing down the fire trail and feeling lucky until everything changed...
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May 11, 2022
A beloved daughter disturbs an intruder and is shot at point-blank range
As a remote area nurse Lesley De Landelles tells the stories of the dash to save her daughter's life, and earlier, of her father.
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May 4, 2022
How does a young pregnant mum in remote SA battle cancer?
Ann Nunn lives on a remote cattle station and discovers at 15 weeks pregnant that she has cancer...
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Apr 27, 2022
Courage is served in large quantities at Gilberton Station - ask Prince Charles
Lyn French is no stranger to accidents and injuries on her remote North Queensland property and in this episode we walk in her shoes and learn of the adventures and challenges at Gilberton Station.
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Apr 20, 2022
A snake in the bed, behind the heater and under the slippery dip
Captain Tom Ryan is not a pilot but he navigates an RFDS plane around Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania to visit schools of all sizes.
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Apr 13, 2022
A skydiving lesson gone wrong changes Joe Chiver's life forever
As Joe and his instructor drifted down from 12,000 feet, it was serene and peaceful, until his parachute suddenly collapsed 10 storeys from the ground, and they plummeted...
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Apr 13, 2022
How did hypothermia save John Muir's life?
John is an experienced open-water swimmer with many long swims under his belt, but things didn’t go to plan in 2014 and doctors are still amazed he lived to tell the tale…
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Oct 14, 2021
Why did 9 year old Jake collapse at the tail end of a soccer game and stop breathing?
Bundaberg warmth. Wide expansive sports field. Parents and friends gather on sidelines watching 9-yr olds compete. Jake feels tired and asks to come off – but then collapses and turns blue, struggling to breathe...
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Oct 7, 2021
What does a train driver, an earth-shattering headache and a bicycle have in common?
Green regional New South Wales. Stunning rolling hills and picturesque valleys. But Terence knows something is terribly wrong when the pain in his head becomes indescribable…
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Sep 23, 2021
What is the legend of The Motorcycle Pudding?
Remote road stretching into the distance, the roar of a motorcycle engine, and snug in the saddlebag, it has seen every state, territory and region of Australia. The motorcycle pudding is now 45 years old and has taken on a life and legend of its own...
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Sep 16, 2021
When you fall into a near boiling thermal mud pool in remote South Australia
Birdsville track. Sandy dunes and red desert stony plains. Steaming hot thermal springs. Nigel climbs out of the 4WD for a rest break and hears screams like he has never heard before…
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Sep 9, 2021
When Chad was pulled from the pool with no pulse, how was he saved?
School swimming carnival. Teen laughter and play. Then a friend notices Chad, slumped over on the edge of the pool, not responding…
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Sep 1, 2021
Young mother, dialysis, and the search for a kidney
Stunning remote SA coastline. Farms surrounded by blue ocean and sky. Danni Horton faints and finds she can no longer see. She is in and out of consciousness as the doctors dash to save her life…
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Aug 26, 2021
How did passengers save the life of Patrick on a commercial flight?
Perth airport. Commercial flight ready. A late passenger dashes in, stressed and sweating. He sinks into his seat but then goes into a seizure and his heart stops. Ben Maher and other passengers, jump into action…
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Aug 12, 2021
How did an experienced horse rider find herself in a life or death situation?
Gladstone warmth. Blue, blue day. Dogs, birds, horses and kids. Rachael is out for a pleasant ride with a friend but the unexpected occurs.
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Aug 5, 2021
Why is your mental approach to cancer so key when it comes to health outcomes and quality of life?
Cockatoos fill the fruit trees. Rabbits abound. A long cancer journey is yet another challenge – but Maggie Murphy is living at home, surrounded by her beautiful gardens and she has reasons to smile.
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Jul 29, 2021
What does the Archibald, Running of the Bulls & The Flying Doctor have in common?
The Big Dry heat. Remote township in the Cape. In the dead of night, with rain bringing relief, people take to the streets – starkers – and run. Nigel Gould explains how he started this strange tradition…
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Jul 13, 2021
How did Andrew Conlon survive being swallowed by the earth?
Remote mine site. Work boots on gravel. Deep conversation as Andrew steps backward and the earth suddenly opens up and he disappears…
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Jul 1, 2021
What happens when a baby is born mid flight?
Seasoned flight nurse Susan Markwell. Remote Indigenous communities. Pregnant patient, mid-flight, has the overwhelming feeling to push…
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Jun 27, 2021
What does Amber do when her young son suffers a severe motorbike?
Remote Northern Territory. Swirling red dust. Laughing kids on motorbikes – then the unthinkable happens.
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Jun 17, 2021
Why is Sam Hughes driving a 1957 tractor around Australia?
Driving a tractor with a boat as a canopy, towing a trailer with a plane on top and containing a car, motorbike and bicycle - the Travelling Jackaroo is on an adventure.
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Jun 10, 2021
Did John Tully survive when his plane hit power lines?
Vast Qld cattle station. A plane and motorbike move the cattle as they have done for years. Suddenly a regular manoeuvre goes wrong and Stephen watches as his father’s plane hits power lines and plunges to the ground.
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Jun 3, 2021
How does a city Doctor make it in the bush?
Young medical student. RFDS flights to isolated communities. Harry has long been passionate about medicine but his placement with the RFDS changed his perspective on rural health entirely.
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May 27, 2021
How could Rob survive this helicopter crash?
Routine mustering. Remote cattle station. A chopper falls from the sky -- smashing into the ground and there is no walking away. Rob & Sarah begin a journey back to a new and different life.
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May 20, 2021
How The Flying Doctor started, and a priest at a dog fight
Vast landscapes. Parish of 160,000 square kilometres. The Flying Padre would fly or drive to provide ministerial services to the remote stations, communities and townships – a mission of an entirely different kind.
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May 13, 2021
How Trent the baker almost lost his arm.
The Nindigully Races. Dust, noise and cheers. Trent’s passion for off-road racing goes terribly wrong and there is a rush to save his arm and his livelihood.
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May 6, 2021
How did baby Calvary scare her parents before she was even born?
Quiet suburban street. Birth plan in the ready. Heart surgeon booked and ready to care for the newborn when she arrives - but Calvary has other plans and arrives 5 weeks early...
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Apr 29, 2021
How a COVID front-line health worker coped in a hotspot?
Masked faces and PPE. Victorian COVID hotspot with hundreds of victims. Ali Cole never dreamed she would be transporting hundreds of confirmed and highly suspected COVID patients to hospital…
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Apr 22, 2021
How did David do CPR on himself to stay alive?
Immense stands of Iron-Bark. Crisp sunny morning. 16 yr old David Donavon is checking for storm damage along the 15km boundaries of a remote property, but has no idea that shortly he will be gasping for oxygen and on a dash to save his own life…
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Apr 15, 2021
How do we help the elderly in their very last days with their final wish?
A stretcher supporting an elderly man. Oxygen tank and caring hands. We all, eventually grow old, and there will be a time when we will have one last wish. Scott Chapman explains the new service.
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Apr 8, 2021
How was Jemma’s life saved – along with her newborn?
Gladstone Maternity ward. Midwives and doctors ready. When Jemma Manwaring held her newborn Zac for the first time she knew something was terribly wrong…
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Apr 1, 2021
What did Leroy do to save his life, as his blood was draining out?
Dust, flies and dry heat. Remote community volunteers are cleaning up after a Christmas event when young Leroy Henderson’s life is changed forever…
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Mar 25, 2021
When crocodiles attack, but no-one is around to help you..
Hot and sticky. Experienced Ranger is fishing in the Cape when a crocodile launches out of the water and mauls him, hundreds of kilometres from a hospital… Katrina Starmer, RFDS Medical Officer recalls the retrieval.
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Mar 18, 2021
How pregnant Michelle dealt with such a life-changing injury?
Rural NSW property. Young mother of two Michelle Dowsett suffered a shocking rare accident that stunned first responders and required fast action to save not just her, but two lives…
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Mar 11, 2021
How did Michael survive burns to more than 60% of his body?
Red dirt and spinifex. Heat and dust. An experienced farming family is mustering cattle on their vast property when the worst imaginable accident occurs that changes Michael Tomlinson’s life for ever.
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Mar 11, 2021
How did Peter Nunn survive two accidents he shouldn’t have ?
Desert sand hills. Red stony downs. A vast remote cattle station in one of the harshest parts of Australia. A horrific accident… a dash to save Peter Nunn’s life…
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Mar 11, 2021
How can something the size of a fingernail be so deadly?
White sands. Rich marine diversity. A family holiday, boating off the Pilbara Coast becomes a terrifying race to save 14 year old Hannah Mitchell.
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Mar 2, 2021
The Flying Doctor - Trailer
Australia is a large, remote, and unforgiving land where accidents happen. In this podcast, we talk to real patients and their families about mate-ship, life in the bush, and the role that the Royal Flying Doctor Service plays in servicing rural communities.
Join our Facebook Community here
Call and leave feedback about this podcast on (02) 8405 7928 we'd love to hear from you! You can also ask questions about the Flying Doctor that you would like to have answered on the podcast, and we will do our best to get them answered in coming episodes.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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