From trampolines to helicopters – the story of a gymnast turned flight paramedic

July 30, 2024 | in News

As the 2024 Olympic Games take place in Paris from 26 July to 11 August, we’re featuring some of Ambulance Victoria’s (AV) very own sporting stars.

Leigh Howlett was used to spending time in the air – albeit a lower altitude – when he became a Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) Flight Paramedic at AV, with a past as a gymnast flying through the air on a trampoline.

At the age of nine, Leigh started out his sporting career in diving, before switching to gymnastics.

“In diving, we used the trampoline as part of our dry training,” Leigh explained.

“I liked the trampoline more than diving so I wondered if I could do that alone as a sport.

“I started training recreationally and it snowballed from there.”

Two athletes performing an acrobatic trick on a trampoline, showcasing their athleticism and coordination in mid-air.

Leigh competing at the 2007 National Championships.

A person is suspended on a winch from a helicopter that is hovering above the forest.

As a MICA Flight Paramedic, Leigh is involved in winching patients to the air ambulance helicopter.

Leigh made the Australian trampoline team in 2003, holding his place in the national squad until 2007 before retiring from the sport in early 2008.

During those years, he achieved success on the national and international stage, winning a silver medal at the 2005 Youth Olympics in synchronised trampoline, being crowned national champion in 2007, competing at the World Championships in 2005 and 2007 (qualifying for the final in the latter year), and competing at the 2003 World Age Games.

Four athletes standing together shoulder-to-shoulder at a sporting event.

Leigh (second from right) at the 2007 Trampoline World Championships in Canada.

Towards the end of his sporting career, Leigh balanced his training and competitions with study for his paramedicine degree.

“It was busy training full time, studying full time and working a part time job,” he said.

“When you’re busy you’re forced to be organised and make it work.”

Make it work he did, with Leigh graduating university then joining AV as a graduate paramedic in 2009.

In 2022, Leigh qualified to be a MICA Flight Paramedic aboard one of AV’s air ambulance helicopters.

It’s one of the most highly qualified paramedic roles and considered one of the most prestigious at AV.

A paramedic standing by an ambulance helicopter parked on a helipad on top of a building with a city skyline in the background.

Leigh at work at Ambulance Victoria.

Leigh said his experience in elite gymnastics helped him progress to this level in his paramedic career.

“What I loved about elite sport was discipline, skill development, how to perform under pressure and the pursuit of sporting goals,” he said.

“I have learned a lot through elite sport and a lot about myself that can be incorporated into everyday life after sport.

“Particularly discipline, learning to perform under pressure and having a drive for improvement has given me a good foundation to build my career as a paramedic.”

An aerial rescue operation with two people suspended from a helicopter hovering above ground.

Leigh working as a MICA Flight Paramedic aboard one of AV’s air ambulance helicopters.

A man in a life jacket seated inside a helicopter flying over a lake.

Leigh at work at Ambulance Victoria.