Earlier this afternoon the North Wales Air Ambulance made an emergency call to Fairbourne, landing in the field directly opposite my bungalow. At first I assumed it was the usual low flying military traffic until I saw something Messerschmit shaped and red aiming for the field opposite. It had been called to collect a lady who was having severe angina pains and who might have had a job making the over 1hr trip to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
Just after it had arrived and was met by a most unusual sight for round here, a North Wales policeman, and those of us who were intent on rubber-necking
After the patient had been wheeled round to the air ambulance the crew spent some time making her comfortable and once the stretcher had been loaded (and I wonder what an elderly distressed woman would have thought about being loaded into someting that looks like a car boot at the back of the helicopter) the co-pilot moved to stand in front of the helicopter whilst the engines were restarted
Once the helicopter had safely restarted and there were no problems it powered up ready for lift off. Note there is a power line immediately behind the helicopter running across the fields, the landing space is tightly hemmed in by bungalows and the power line so takes some landing in.
Lift off
Amazing flying - whilst the co-pilot leant out of the door looking behind him the helicopter lifted off backwards parallel to the power line and away from the bungalow until safely at a height to be able to turn and fly forward.
I gather that the Air Ambulance has used this field previously for emergency lifts as having good road access where it can meet an ambulance or paramedic. However it's the first time it's happened in the two years I've lived opposite. Although obviously an unfortunate situation for the patient, it was a fascinating event to happen virtually on the doorstep.
