Helicopter helps in hospital dash for seriously ill baby

The Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd has flown a seriously ill baby and its doctors on a life-saving trip to a specialist hospital.

Doctors from the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow were initially flown to Luton where they were collected by the helicopter from Lydd to transport them on to Southampton General Hospital where the baby was.

The search and rescue helicopter, which is operated by Bristow Helicopters Ltd, on behalf of HM Coastguard, was called in to help just before 11.15 last night (3rd December). 

Captain Alan Dale, who was one of the pilots during the mission, said: ‘The weather conditions were difficult and without the Night Vision Goggles we wouldn’t have been able to help save this baby’s life by flying the doctors from Luton to Southampton.’

Southampton Coastguard Rescue team was sent to assist at the landing site at the hospital for the helicopter’s arrival.

Picture: Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Once there, the crew waited three and a half hours while the baby’s condition was stabilised before flying back to Luton with the baby and the two doctors.

An air ambulance then transferred the baby and doctors onto Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

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