Australian ambulance crew grants dying woman's last wish to visit the beach

The woman's last wish was to see the beach again. PHOTO: QUEENSLAND AMBULANCE SERVICE/FACEBOOK

SYDNEY (AFP) - An Australian ambulance crew carrying a dying woman to hospital took a detour to grant her final wish - to visit the beach one last time.

"Tears were shed and the patient felt very happy," the ambulance service posted on its Facebook page alongside a photo showing a paramedic beside a stretcher facing the ocean at Hervey Bay, on Australia's east coast.

"A crew were transporting a patient to the palliative care unit of the local hospital and the patient expressed that she just wished she could be at the beach again," the service said in the message posted on Thursday (Nov 23).

"Above and beyond,the crew took a small diversion to the awesome beach at Hervey Bay to give the patient this opportunity," it added of the crew's actions on Wednesday.

"Sometimes it is not the drugs/training/skills - sometimes all you need is empathy to make a difference!"

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.