Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Rotorheads
Reload this Page >

sonning air ambulance incident

Wikiposts
Search
Rotorheads A haven for helicopter professionals to discuss the things that affect them

sonning air ambulance incident

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 20th Aug 2001, 19:19
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: bucks
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post sonning air ambulance incident

Meridian TV has just approached us to film an incident on railway line at Sonning (15:30hrs). An air ambulance unit landed on the railway embankment and promptly toppled over. Thruxton boys won the job I think - That is all I know but should be on 6pm local news.

Scant knowledge Im afraid but thats all the TV guy would let on.. Anyone know any more on this?
elvistheopsman is offline  
Old 20th Aug 2001, 19:44
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: by the seaside
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

From Meridian Online

MAN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN RAIL ACCIDENT

A man has been seriously injured after being hit by a train in Berkshire.

It is thought he was thrown off a railway bridge by Pound Lane near the village of Sonning.

The man, in his mid-twenties, lost a leg after being struck by a First Great Western Train.

He has been airlifted to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
Rotorbike is offline  
Old 20th Aug 2001, 20:16
  #3 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: bucks
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

Hmm... not sure where TV man got the idea that the air ambulance was in trouble. Chinese whispers I suppose. Glad to stand corrected though.
elvistheopsman is offline  
Old 20th Aug 2001, 20:51
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: by the seaside
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cool

Meridian Online change their story:

RAIL DISRUPTION FOR BERKSHIRE COMMUTERS

Commuters face a long journey home tonight after an air ambulance became stuck on the railway line near Sonning in Berkshire.

The helicopter was attempting to rescue a man who had been hit by a train near the village of Sonning.

The man, in his mid-twenties, lost a leg after being struck by a First Great Western Train.

The line between Reading and London Paddington remains closed. This means there are no First Great Western services or Thames Trains services between Paddington and Reading and all the stations in between.

Customers coming from London are being told to travel to Waterloo and use the South West Trains service to Reading which is unaffected.
Rotorbike is offline  
Old 20th Aug 2001, 21:00
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: by the seaside
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Talking

Further news
http://icberkshire.icnetwork.co.uk/0...84&method=full
Rotorbike is offline  
Old 21st Aug 2001, 12:59
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: by the seaside
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Red face

INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE INTO SONNING RAIL INCIDENT

Investigations are continuing this morning into why a motorist crashed his car and then made his way onto railway lines near Reading. The driver was then hit by a train and suffered severe injuries. The Thames Valley Air Ambulance was called to the line in the village of Sonning yesterday afternoon but got stuck on the tracks and was unable to move. The man was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital by land ambulance.

Source Meridian Online
Rotorbike is offline  
Old 21st Aug 2001, 13:12
  #7 (permalink)  

Senis Semper Fidelis
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Lancashire U K
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

Part of the centre concrete drain/wire conduit broke or slipped allowing the landing gear to fall into the void trapping the Hems/heli on the ground, Pilot decided it would be wrong to take off. Right decision!
Vfrpilotpb is offline  
Old 21st Aug 2001, 15:14
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Andover / Goodwood
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wink

Depending upon which region's News report you happened to catch, the story varied quite a bit.

Meridian said that the Air Ambulance was called out to the site, arrived spectacularly quickly and positioned into a fairly difficult site. The crew then stabilised the casualty and loaded him into the heli. At this point the Road Ambulance arrived and it was decided that in the interests of everyone concerned, i.e. The casualty, the Police, the Crew and onlookers, that it would be safer to transfer the casualty to hospital by road.

The Air Ambulance then lifted safely and returned to base with minimal fuss and delay. On the whole they portrayed a very positive and supportive picture of the role of the Air Ambulance Service and the fine chaps and lasses that crew it.

The BBC however played on the fact that the Rail service suffered form even longer delays due to the "Air Ambulance breaking down on the tracks." Come on Auntie Beeb, that's just not Cricket.

Which brings me to another point totally unrelated to Aviation but I'm sure some of you Gentlemen Aviators out there will have an opinion. How well would England have faired if Australia hadn't declared so early on Sunday?
Qualityman is offline  
Old 21st Aug 2001, 17:42
  #9 (permalink)  

Senis Semper Fidelis
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Lancashire U K
Posts: 1,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cool

Speaking for some of the fanatical Northern Tribes, who wear Union Jack Jock Straps, I would have thought without a shadow of a doubt the we would have most probably LOST
Vfrpilotpb is offline  
Old 21st Aug 2001, 17:51
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Chilly Jocko Land
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wink

Notwithstanding the actual facts contained in the above reports, undercarriage on an EMS helicopter should be down and welded at all times.
4Rvibes is offline  
Old 21st Aug 2001, 23:49
  #11 (permalink)  

Just Dropped In
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: um....er.....
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Unhappy

Bit of bad luck for the pilot!

But by 'eck I've been saying for years, years I tell ya, that EMS Helicopters need them there skids!
Wheels just don't perform the wear a nice shiny set of skids do!
Have I ever told you....OUCH! Okay, Okay! I'll shut up!
Roofus is offline  
Old 22nd Aug 2001, 01:11
  #12 (permalink)  
Scalextric for Men
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Southern England outside the M25
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

Was the camera running during the great descent. Because for certain if there is video footage: it is the only chance for mere mortals to witness an earthbound machine doing what Father Christmas does
Capn Notarious is offline  
Old 22nd Aug 2001, 01:19
  #13 (permalink)  
Scalextric for Men
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Southern England outside the M25
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

That question is for Roofus and his event: not the alpha alpha pilot
Capn Notarious is offline  
Old 22nd Aug 2001, 02:42
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK
Age: 77
Posts: 1,174
Received 8 Likes on 4 Posts
Red face

There is one aspect of the 'incident' relating to the TVAC landing that has not been discussed.

I did not click onto it straight off but A N other raised it...

We know that the concrete culvert cover cracked a dropped the wheel partly into a 6 foot [2 meteres for the decimal chaps] void. And the after math was a 3 hour halt in the rail service because all four MR blades covered all four tracks [it would have been alright with an early two blade Bell type].

But who pays?

Each of the rail passengers stands to be compensated for up to 3 hours of delay. Is that cost finally down to Railtrack [the track operator], the train operator [Virgin, GW Trains etc] or the air ambulance?

As the air ambulance was invited onto the tracks [and they have done it before without incident] and was 'working' to remove the injured party from Railtrack property it may be down to the Railtrack insurance.

If not ....

I will ask about, but please chew on it if you care to.
PANews is offline  
Old 22nd Aug 2001, 04:42
  #15 (permalink)  

Just Dropped In
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: um....er.....
Posts: 130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

Capt N. Sorry to say it wasn't. But if you're at the GatBash I do a good impression on a swivel chair! (no rude comments please!)


PA. I don't know who is liable, but RailTrack reckon it costs £180 per minute delay, not including passenger compensation. So I suspect they ain't happy!
Roofus is offline  
Old 22nd Aug 2001, 06:23
  #16 (permalink)  
1S1
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Post

Skids are for kids
1S1 is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.