A medical emergency onboard the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales whilst off the coast of the Isle of Wight led to a Coastguard rescue mission this evening (Friday).
Just hours after leaving Portsmouth Harbour for the first time in 6 months, the 66,000-tonne vessel had to request assistance when a sailor onboard suffered what is understood to be a medical emergency.
Coastguard Rescue 175, based at Lee-on-Solent, flew directly over the Isle of Wight at around 19:30 before landing on the deck of the Royal Navy carrier – somewhat of a rare occurrence – a few miles south of St Catherine’s Point.
The helicopter spent little time on the massive deck before flying directly to Portsmouth, landing at a helicopter landing site close to the Queen Alexandra Hospital.
HMS Prince of Wales has been in dock at Portsmouth Naval Base since October following an onboard flood in the engine room. The carrier left Pompey at around 15:00 this afternoon before heading east towards the Nab Tower and then down the east coast of the Island into the English Channel.
the coastguard probably did the casevac as the carriers helo’s weren’t embarked yet – probably due to to embark after some work up trials