SKYDIVE pilot-turned-pharmacist, Mark McMurtrie, is combining his passion for flying with healthcare to bring the Angel Flight service back to the Fraser Coast for the first time in two years.
The Queensland-based pharmacist has volunteered his plane and time on Mondays to fly patients from rural and remote areas to Hervey Bay for non-urgent medical appointments, the ABC reported.
"Some of them [patients] miss appointments due to the cost or time factor," he said.
"I really just enjoy flying and I've got the ability to do it, so I thought, you know what, let's bring this back so people can have access to it again.
"I used to be a skydive pilot years ago here and, look, any opportunity and any excuse to go flying, I'll take it.
"I'm just happy to have the aircraft available and take some time off work to go and fly."
The River Heads pharmacist said a lack of pilots had left the area without Angel Flight services for the last two years.
McMurtrie said he was determined to use his aviation skills to help people living in regional and remote areas gain access to healthcare services.
"There's just a massive gap [in access between urban and remote areas]," he said.
"We're hoping to close the gap."
He encouraged people to stick their hands up to volunteer to support charities and give some time.
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