16/04/2010

Coastguard Airlifts Norwegian Fisherman

A Norwegian fisherman was airlifted to hospital off the coast of Scotland last night, after he sustained a serious arm injury.

Stornoway Coastguard received a call from the skipper of a Norwegian registered fishing vessel on medium frequency radio at around 7.30pm, asking for assistance with an injured crewman.

Stornoway Coastguard connected the skipper to a duty doctor at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for medical advice.

After talking with the skipper, the doctor concluded that the crewman should be evacuated to a hospital for immediate medical care.

The fishing vessel was undertaking fishing when the incident happened sixty nautical miles west of North Uist.

A helicopter was requested from ARCC Kinloss and the Coastguard helicopter based at Stornoway was scrambled.

The fisherman was winched off the vessel into the aircraft and immediately treated by the paramedic crewman whilst en route to the hospital.

The helicopter returned to land direct at the Western Isles hospital into the care of the medical authorities, where he is receiving further treatment.

Maggie McKay,Watch Manager, Stornoway Coastguard said: "This was an urgent mission to evacuate the 33 year old injured Norwegian fisherman from the fishing vessel.

"Due to the speed of the evacuation, and the man receiving immediate medical care whilst in the aircraft, the man will have a greater chance of recovery."

(PR/GK)

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