The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance has touched down in central Ryde tonight (Bank Holiday Monday) in response to a potentially life-threatening medical emergency.
It was shortly before 20:20 that the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service responded with an ambulance, critical care paramedic and an operational commander to an incident believed to have taken place in the town, in the vicinity of Union Street.
The severity of the situation was such that the assistance of the air ambulance was deemed appropriate, with the aircraft scrambled from its base at Thruxton.
It was at 20:50 that the helicopter landed at Simeon Street recreation ground, where local paramedics were already waiting to rendezvous with the flying medics.
Assessment of the patient is now underway with a decision to be taken as to whether or not they need to be flown to a specialist hospital on the mainland.
No other emergency services are present, indicating a medical-related emergency.
UPDATE @ 22:27 – The air ambulance, which lifted off from Ryde at just before 22:00, has conveyed the patient to Southampton General Hospital.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance is the charity that delivers an advanced Critical Care Team to sick and injured people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight when they need it most.
Available both day and night, 365 days a year, the Air Ambulance Critical Care Team is called out an average of seven times a day to attend road traffic collisions, sporting accidents, collapses and many other incidents.
Donate today to help make their next mission possible.
There was a fire engine present
Ryde and Shanklin fire stations respond to medical emergencies to get treatment to the patient asap.