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A specialised NSW Ambulance Patient Extrication Vessel (PEV) from Point Clare was put to the test last week when crews successfully reached a patient at a remote home along the Hawkesbury River.
The callout came to a property in Canoelands, where very shallow and muddy conditions at low tide had prevented other boats from accessing the patient’s location. With other vessels unable to navigate the tricky river conditions, it was the design and capability of the PEV that made the difference. The crew was able to safely navigate through difficult waters, provide urgent on‑site medical care and extricate the patient without relying on external resources.
The rescue marked the team’s first operational water response using the PEV. Special Operations Unit Paramedic Luke Kelly said the extrication of the patient went exceptionally well.
“Even at low tide our vessel was able to reach this remote property and our paramedics assessed the patient before transporting her by boat to a waiting ambulance,” Mr Kelly said.
“The NSW Ambulance Patient Extrication Vessels have increased our capability to access patients and communities who live in remote areas or may be impacted by flood waters, allowing us to respond to patients quickly and provide emergency medical care.” The patient was transported in a stable condition to Hornsby Ku‑ring‑gai Hospital.
Launched in November 2025, the Patient Extrication Vessels form part of NSW Ambulance’s enhanced flood rescue capability. These seven‑metre aluminium boats, built in Yamba on the NSW north coast, include features such as bow‑loader access for patients and twin 60 horsepower outboard engines designed to operate in hazardous, shallow, and isolated conditions. The vessels can carry up to seven people, enabling crews to reach patients, transport specialised clinicians, and carry essential medical supplies when traditional land‑based access is limited.
The fleet of eight vessels is being progressively rolled out across the state to support emergency responses in flood‑affected and hard‑to‑reach areas, stationed at key locations including Point Clare, Tamworth, Rutherford, Cowra, Wagga Wagga, Bomaderry, and Sydney.
NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan has highlighted the vessels’ critical role during flood events saying "These new vessels will be invaluable when communities are cut off by flood waters, as we will have greater access to patients, bringing them highly trained health professionals and medical supplies.”
For residents living along waterways like the Hawkesbury River, where remote properties can be difficult to reach during extreme tides and weather events, the introduction of the PEVs marks a significant boost to local emergency response capability ensuring patients receive timely, life-saving care regardless of conditions.
