TRANSFERRING a critically injured driver to Melbourne was the first official job for the south-west's new emergency helicopter yesterday morning.
Ambulance spokesman John Mullen said the helicopter was called at 1.30am, following a single-car accident on the Western Highway at Lawloit, west of Nhill.
The driver, an 18-year-old man, was injured when his car crashed into a tree.
The helicopter left its Mailors Flat base and landed close to the scene where paramedics stabilised the victim.
Mr Mullen said while the prime coverage area for the new helicopter was the south-west district, it would also be called in to cover other emergency helicopter services based at Bendigo and Melbourne.