NSW SES drone pilot Gabe Mihalas played a key role in a life-saving operation to deliver urgent medical supplies to cancer patients stranded by floodwaters on the NSW mid-north coast.
With Harrington cut off and river conditions too dangerous for boats, and helicopters unavailable, Mihalas used a drone to fly the critical supplies across the Manning River on Wednesday night.
“The option to use a drone kept volunteers out of floodwater and out of danger,” Mihalas told 9News.
“It’s a great feeling to be a part of this… it was definitely a nice feeling to be out there on the frontline doing the actual delivery.”
Mihalas also captured footage of the nighttime delivery, part of an SES innovation trial using drones for emergency response.
Local palliative care nurse Tiffany Willis coordinated the on-ground handover and ensured the medication reached patients within hours.
“Those two patients were just so relieved and so thankful to receive medical treatment and some reassurance that even though we are still cut off, we’re not completely isolated from help,” she said.
The SES continues to explore drone technology as a tool for safe and efficient disaster response.
Source: 9News.
