13 March 2006

A 12 YEAR old boy from Shetland was flown to the Hospital for Sick Children, in Edinburgh, this morning in what was one of the most complex medical evacuations in recent years.

The emergency services were alerted late yesterday afternoon (Sunday) after the boy had collapsed and became critically ill.

A medical team was flown Prestwick to Aberdeen were they boarded a Rescue 137 helicopter from Kinloss heading for the Tingwall airstrip, in Shetland.

While the team stabilised the boy at the Gilbert Bain Hospital, the helicopter moved to Sumburgh Airport for refuelling, and eventually took off with the sick boy and the medical team at 4.20 am, this morning.