The Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have responded to fears of a helicopter fire on the helipad at St Mary’s Hospital in Newport tonight (Thursday).
Appliances from Newport, Ryde and Shanklin were alerted to the incident at around 20:15 when reports were received that the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance had developed a fire.
The first crews on scene were able to swiftly confirm the incident as a false alarm, resulting in all other resources being stood down.
The Air Ambulance has since departed St Mary’s Hosptial for the mainland.
UPDATE @ 21:10 – Island Echo understands that the fire fears came about when smoke started to fill the cabin of the helicopter on takeoff. The helicopter was landed quickly but safely and the patient evacuated.
The air ambulance – an Airbus H135 – was lifting off from St Mary’s helipad to transfer a local male to a mainland hospital. The transfer has now been successfully completed following a safety check.
