Things are getting hot for flight nurse Pete – and in more ways than one – in this week’s RFDS episode.
Pushed to the edge, how will the flight nurse cope?
We pick up the action in Broken Hill, with Pete (Stephen Peacocke) facing a grilling from Eliza (Emma Hamilton) in an official review of the White Cliffs incident, which saw Pete perform a risky procedure mid-flight that left a patient unable to speak.
Base manager Leonie (Justine Clarke) is also drawn into the White Cliffs inquiry.
(Image: Supplied)Eliza – Pete’s former flame who has returned from the UK – has been tasked with leading the review.
“This isn’t a witch hunt,” Eliza tells a clearly frazzled Pete during her investigation.
The close scrutiny of his actions has left Pete not only doubting whether he did the right thing at the time, but if he’s any good at his job at all.
RFDS season two suspected tuberculosis outbreak.
(Image: Supplied)But there’s little time to dwell on such things, as Pete and Eliza are forced to put the investigation to one side when they’re called to transport a patient with suspected tuberculosis.
Because the patient, Seb (Adam Milne), is highly contagious, the flight crew must wear full personal protective equipment.
And with a heatwave sending temperatures above 40C, wearing PPE is just one more challenge for the team.
With TB a risk, masks and full PPE are vital.
(Image: Supplied)But things take an unexpected turn when RFDS pilot Graham (Rodney Afif) delivers bad news: the plane has become bogged and can’t take off.
Stuck on a grounded plane as Seb’s condition hangs in the balance – and without aircon – Pete’s crisis of confidence peaks.
When Eliza asks, “Are you going to be OK to intubate?”, Pete, with memories of what happened last time he had to perform the difficult procedure, begins to buckle in the heat.
An overwhelmed Pete is struggling to cope.
(Image: Supplied)His goggles are fogging up. He can’t breathe. He must get out…
Meanwhile, Darren (Thomas Weatherall), now back in Broken Hill, has a bombshell for his family – he wants to move to Dubbo to pursue his dream job as an engineer.
He implores his girlfriend Taylor (Sofia Nolan), “Come with me. Don’t you want to start fresh? Get out of this place?”
But the decision isn’t so easy for Taylor. She has her own career to think of – and there’s also her growing feelings for patient Cameron (Jack Kenny).
Will she go with Darren?
Catch the latest episode of RFDS season two on Channel Seven and 7Plus at 9:15pm on Tuesday.
