UPDATED: Locals and holidaymakers in Sandown were surprised at the arrival of a helicopter on the beach this evening (Thursday) tasked to airlift a medical patient to hospital.
Coastguard Resue 104 helicopter from Lee-on-Solent was called to assist the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service on Sandown Seafront shortly after 18:35.
Readers have reported that a person suffered a medical episode outside one of the seafront hotels.
The patient was rapidly transferred into the helicopter and airlifted to St Mary’s Hospital, Newport.
UPDATE FRIDAY: The male patient was further airlifted from St Mary’s Hospital to the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham at around 20:30 last night, it has been confirmed. The man had suffered a heart attack.
It is unclear as to why the patient was not airlifted straight to the mainland.
Thanks to @bullderdash for the photograph
