Man dies after yobs stop air ambulance landing
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Man dies after yobs stop air ambulance landing
The Wiltshire Air Ambulance was stopped from taking a dying man to hospotal last night after laser pens were shone at the pilot as he tried to land.
The man later died on the way to hospital in a road ambulance.
The pens were shone at the air ambulance as it tried to land in Calne, responding to calls of a man dying of a heart attack.
The helicopter had landed but took off again to burn off some fuel to carry the man to hospital. But, as it tried to re-land near King Edward Close, the pilot was faced with yobs shining laser pens and was forced to abandon.
The man was taken to Great Western Hospital, in Swindon, by road ambulance but is believed to have died before they arrived.
Police are now investigating the incident, anyone with information should call (0845) 4087000.
The man later died on the way to hospital in a road ambulance.
The pens were shone at the air ambulance as it tried to land in Calne, responding to calls of a man dying of a heart attack.
The helicopter had landed but took off again to burn off some fuel to carry the man to hospital. But, as it tried to re-land near King Edward Close, the pilot was faced with yobs shining laser pens and was forced to abandon.
The man was taken to Great Western Hospital, in Swindon, by road ambulance but is believed to have died before they arrived.
Police are now investigating the incident, anyone with information should call (0845) 4087000.
Man dies after yobs stop air ambulance landing
BBC News - Laser 'shone at Wiltshire Air Ambulance' in Calne
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Criminals / yobs etc obviously consider a police helicopter as fair game, especially if it comes down to land where it is vulnerable. Is it wise to have an air ambulance doing police work or vice versa?
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The pilot had landed previously, but took off again to burn off fuel 
, whilst a man laid there dying. Surely with a life threatening situation like that the pilot could have acted differently to expedite this man to hospital?
, whilst a man laid there dying. Surely with a life threatening situation like that the pilot could have acted differently to expedite this man to hospital?
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It sounds like a sad indictment of modern yoof certainly. The Wiltshire helicopter (in my limited historical experience) was known more for it being a HEMS than a police heli amongst the locals, and had a very positive image and a lot of local support.
Just be a bit careful about the "facts" reported by the media though. The details do not sound quite right to me.
Just be a bit careful about the "facts" reported by the media though. The details do not sound quite right to me.
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The pilot had landed previously, but took off again to burn off fuel , whilst a man laid there dying. Surely with a life threatening situation like that the pilot could have acted differently to expedite this man to hospital?
As maddening as some of these issues genuinely are, it really doesn't help to turn pprune into something that begins to read like the Daily Rail:
The story quoted doesn't add up and is clearly from a sensationlist rag/local online boulevard tabloid that doesn't even take the time to do a spell check (it misspelt hospital for heaven's sake!); the police were quoted (by the BBC) as being initially satisfied that the laser incident and man's death were unrelated.
The story quoted doesn't add up and is clearly from a sensationlist rag/local online boulevard tabloid that doesn't even take the time to do a spell check (it misspelt hospital for heaven's sake!); the police were quoted (by the BBC) as being initially satisfied that the laser incident and man's death were unrelated.
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Calling these people 'yobs' is rather describing a famine as 'a situation in which a few people might not always eat a full meal three times a day.'
They are murdering scum and should be permanently elimated from society. It is a pity that the softly softly approach does not allow for this, and if they are caught they will probably end up going to a correctional institute where they will sit and watch daytime TV on widescreen TVs whilst food is brought to them on trays.
They are murdering scum and should be permanently elimated from society. It is a pity that the softly softly approach does not allow for this, and if they are caught they will probably end up going to a correctional institute where they will sit and watch daytime TV on widescreen TVs whilst food is brought to them on trays.
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They are murdering scum and should be permanently elimated from society
Murderers? I don't think so.
Last edited by chopjock; 10th Sep 2011 at 10:50.
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Chopjock, so with reference to your previous implied criticism of the pilot, what could he have done differently?
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what could he have done differently?
If he didn't previously land, perhaps risk red lining the torque gauges for a few seconds more in order to save a life? Hell if I wanted to save a life whilst landing and someone shone a laser at me I would perhaps look the other way and pedel the nose around so the light was coming from behind me?
Who knows, a man's life was at stake here. Cutting and running was one option though I suppose.
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Chopjock, bear in mind that many cases involving air ambulances are life and death situations. How many times a day do you expect the pilot to "redline the torque gauges" or fly overweight?
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chop jock: it was an Air Ambulance on Air Ambulance ops, even if it is multi tasked at times. The Wiltshire Police made the following statement, which differs enough from the media report as to be worth considering before you make any more wild assumptions:
Shortly after midnight on 8th September 2011, the Wiltshire Air Ambulance was responding to requests from ambulance crews on the ground in Calne who were dealing with a patient suffering chest problems.
Whilst over the location it was forced to abort a landing and police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this as there is evidence to suggest that a laser pen was being directed at the aircraft.
The casualty, who had been receiving treatment from paramedics for considerable time was instead transported to GWH in Swindon by land ambulance but was pronounced dead on arrival.
At this stage we are satisfied that the helicopter not being able to land did not affect the outcome of this incident.
Endangering an aircraft is a very serious offence and any incident where lasers or bright lights are shone deliberately could have catastrophic consequences for the aircraft crew and those on the ground
Shining a laser pen at an aircraft can potentially distract or block the pilot’s view from the cockpit – and this is why it is so dangerous and foolish
Laser pens do work both ways though – the air crew can identify where a laser has come from - and we have provided information to officers who are now conducting a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident
Whilst over the location it was forced to abort a landing and police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this as there is evidence to suggest that a laser pen was being directed at the aircraft.
The casualty, who had been receiving treatment from paramedics for considerable time was instead transported to GWH in Swindon by land ambulance but was pronounced dead on arrival.
At this stage we are satisfied that the helicopter not being able to land did not affect the outcome of this incident.
Endangering an aircraft is a very serious offence and any incident where lasers or bright lights are shone deliberately could have catastrophic consequences for the aircraft crew and those on the ground
Shining a laser pen at an aircraft can potentially distract or block the pilot’s view from the cockpit – and this is why it is so dangerous and foolish
Laser pens do work both ways though – the air crew can identify where a laser has come from - and we have provided information to officers who are now conducting a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident
Tbh Heliport, I don't know why you started this thread. There is already a thread on lasers and helicopters. You set out to imply that the man's death was caused by the yobs stopping the helicopter landing, but apart from the selective use of a crappy source there doesn't seem to be much evidence at this stage for that.
If you wanted to up the ante and give a forum to people to air their outrage over an (up to now) fictional correlation, you have succeeded. But I though Jet Blast was for that.
I'm taking the bait because Britain has just had another round of riots (third lot in the last three decades). I just don't see the value in giving a platform here for talking bollocks about something which is clearly very serious.
Capetonian, I'm afraid I mean contributors like you. Imodium is good for controlling bodily diarrhea. Intellectual and emotional incontinence is harder to treat, but thinking things through and knowing at least a little about what your talking about helps. Before repeating a popular mantra of how cushy gaol is, spend some time in a few of them. Only people who have little or no experience of prison think it's cushy. I am afraid you are typing through your butt.
Is this Professional Pilots Rumour Network or some place to sound off about a half-cock story?
If you wanted to up the ante and give a forum to people to air their outrage over an (up to now) fictional correlation, you have succeeded. But I though Jet Blast was for that.
I'm taking the bait because Britain has just had another round of riots (third lot in the last three decades). I just don't see the value in giving a platform here for talking bollocks about something which is clearly very serious.
Capetonian, I'm afraid I mean contributors like you. Imodium is good for controlling bodily diarrhea. Intellectual and emotional incontinence is harder to treat, but thinking things through and knowing at least a little about what your talking about helps. Before repeating a popular mantra of how cushy gaol is, spend some time in a few of them. Only people who have little or no experience of prison think it's cushy. I am afraid you are typing through your butt.
Is this Professional Pilots Rumour Network or some place to sound off about a half-cock story?
Chopjock.
It is not uncommon for an air ambulance to land and drop off it's paramedics (to start assessing and treating the casualty, secure him in the stretcher etc) then depart again for various reasons e.g to land in a place better suited to loading the stretcher or, as in this case, burn off some fuel.
Air Ambulances tend to standby with a pre-decided fuel load based on what they might reasonably expect to have to do - therefore, if they get a job that is a close to base, thus burning less fuel to get there, they might end up a little over and have to burn a bit off.
As for "red-lining it a bit" to get the job done - that's not the way it should work - as another poster said - every flight is potentially life-saving so what would happen if they did that every time?
As for dropping a paramedic or some equipment - who looks after the patient in flight and what happens on the next job after they've dropped this patient if one of their paramedics and half their kit is in a field miles away?
Hope that information is useful to you.
OH
It is not uncommon for an air ambulance to land and drop off it's paramedics (to start assessing and treating the casualty, secure him in the stretcher etc) then depart again for various reasons e.g to land in a place better suited to loading the stretcher or, as in this case, burn off some fuel.
Air Ambulances tend to standby with a pre-decided fuel load based on what they might reasonably expect to have to do - therefore, if they get a job that is a close to base, thus burning less fuel to get there, they might end up a little over and have to burn a bit off.
As for "red-lining it a bit" to get the job done - that's not the way it should work - as another poster said - every flight is potentially life-saving so what would happen if they did that every time?
As for dropping a paramedic or some equipment - who looks after the patient in flight and what happens on the next job after they've dropped this patient if one of their paramedics and half their kit is in a field miles away?
Hope that information is useful to you.
OH