Helicopter of the Italian Mission rescues a bather

05/06/14

Yesterday, at around 12.10, the Rescue Coordination Center of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) requested the intervention of an HH 212 helicopter of the Italian Mission for the urgent transport of a bather, caught by a heart attack on the long-known beach of Ghain Tuffijeha the northwest coast of Malta.

The helicopter, already in flight due to training activities at about 6 miles east of the island, interrupted the mission reaching in few minutes the place of the intervention.

The crew, after having carried out a delicate approach maneuver conditioned by the strong mistral wind, quickly proceeded to recover the person using the winch. Having ascertained the critical condition of the recovered patient, the aircraft was quickly directed towards the helipad of the St Luke hospital in Gwardamanga, where at 12.45 the person was entrusted to the medical staff intervened.

The mission ended with the return of the aircraft to the Malta International Airport, where the helicopter was reconditioned for other possible rescue interventions. 

The SAR section of the Italian Collaboration Mission in the Defense field works with personnel of the Italian Air Force and with mixed Italian-Maltese crews, collaborating with the Maltese government on the Search and Rescue Service. The service is guaranteed, with an H24 readiness, by using the supplied HH 212 helicopters, even in the most difficult weather conditions.

Source: Italian Mission - Malta - May. Mario Bavagnoli