14/07/2006

Woman airlifted from Rathlin Island

A pregnant woman has been airlifted to hospital from Rathlin Island, off the north Antrim coast, after there were complications when she went into labour.

A helicopter from RAF Prestwick in Scotland was dispatched to the island at around 3.30am, after a request for assistance from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

It is understood that the woman and a nurse were taken to the Causeway hospital at Coleraine after reports that the woman had a "breech baby."

A spokesperson for the Scottish Coastguard said: "There were some complications which could not be handled on Rathlin Island itself, and so she was better off in hospital.”

He added that the operation was straightforward and it is not unusual for them to get asked from time to time to take casualties from Rathlin to the Causeway Hospital.

(EF/SP)

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