The 54-year-old locomotive reliability specialist suffered bleeding from his left gastric artery and was bleeding internally.
‘All of my energy washed away and I couldn’t move,’ Mr McArthur said. ‘The Rio Tinto Iron Ore emergency response officer put me on oxygen and my abdomen was sore, but that’s all I can remember.’
Mr McArthur was transported to Nickol Bay Hospital before the RFDS flew him to Royal Perth Hospital.
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READ NOWHe underwent surgery to correct a gastric artery aneurism.
Since the operation, Mr McArthur has tried to keep his weight down by walking as much as possible.
‘There is little that can be done to prevent this type of problem except take care of your general health,’ he said.
RFDS chief executive Grahame Marshall said Mr McArthur’s story was one of many that involved a high level of medical expertise in flight.
‘This is a great example of the specialised medical advice and support that West Australians receive from the RFDS, 24 hours of every single day, ensuring that people travelling, working, or living anywhere outside of Perth have access to emergency health care whenever and wherever they need it,’ Mr Marshall said.