Read Online Remote Rescue by George Ivanoff - Free Book Online Page A

empty stretcher was also strapped to the wall, at the foot of the cabin. The nurse was taking his blood pressure.
    Mark indicated the seat opposite the empty stretcher. Dawson sat down and fumbled with his seatbelt.
    As Mark headed for the cockpit, Maddyfinished checking on Dad and then sat down in the passenger seat opposite him, giving Dawson a quick smile.
    A very businesslike smile , thought Dawson. He wished that Bruce was coming along instead.
    Dawson glanced out of the window. Bruce and Jen were by the carpark, waving. He waved back, although he wasn’t sure they’d be able to see him through the little panel.
    The engine started and the plane moved along the runway. As it built up speed, the aircraft rattled. The way his seat shook made Dawson think of the massage chairs they have in department stores. Whenever he went shopping with Mum, he liked sittingin them and switching all the settings to maximum. He wasn’t sure he’d ever do that again.
    The aircraft was a lot louder than Dawson expected – the rattling combined with the sound of the engine. That little propeller engine makes an awful lot of noise, he thought.
    His stomach dropped with the sudden leap into the air. The rattling eased, but the thrum of the engine remained constant.
    He looked through the window to see Leigh Creek Aerodrome falling away. As the aeroplane climbed higher, he noticed two cars on the highway below. He wondered if that was his sisters along with Burt and Gwen.

    Sam looked out of the car window to see a plane in the sky. ‘Are we nearly there?’ she asked.
    â€˜Yep,’ answered Burt. ‘We’re just passing the exit to the town of Leigh Creek, so the airport’s not far off.’
    â€˜Then that’s probably Dad and Daws up above.’ She pointed through the window.
    â€˜Where? Where?’ iPad suddenly discarded, Em looked eagerly out of her window. ‘I can’t see.’
    â€˜On this side,’ said Sam.
    Em unbuckled her belt and threw herself to where Sam was sitting, straining. ‘Where are they? I want to see them!’
    â€˜Oi, seatbelt back on or I stop the car,’ demanded Burt.
    Em reluctantly returned to her seat.
    A few minutes later they pulled into the airport car park, the Land Rover parking beside them.
    Gwen was out of the Land Rover and opening their door in seconds. ‘I’ve had a couple of calls on the satellite phone.’ She waved her hands about excitedly as she spoke. ‘But the reception was so bad I couldn’t make anything out before it cut off. It sounded like a female voice. Might have been your mum. We should get into the airport and make a landline call to her.’

    Dad groaned in pain.
    Maddy was bent over him checking his leg and adjusting the IV drip. Then she grabbed the headphone and mic off the hook on the wall and put them on. She looked worried. Dawson tried to listen in over the sound of the engine.
    â€˜We’ve got a problem, Mark.’ Maddy’s voice was raised. ‘Looks like the patient might have acute compartment syndrome. It’s vital he goes into surgery ASAP. Can you radio ahead to make sure the ambulance is waiting and that the hospital is ready?’ She paused to hear the answer. ‘Thanks.’ Maddy adjusted the IV again and sank into her seat, keeping the headphones on.
    Dawson leaned forward. ‘What’s goingon?’ He had to talk loudly to make himself heard over the engine noise.
    Maddy took a deep breath before pulling the headphones off one ear and answering. ‘Looks like there might be a complication with your dad. Sometimes with a broken bone, the sharp ends can cause additional damage. A build up of pressure in a fascial compartment.’
    Dawson looked blankly at the nurse.
    â€˜Sorry.’ She leaned forward and raised her voice a little more. ‘Basically, it means that not enough blood is getting through to some of the muscles and nerves in