British hiker airlifted from Fish River canyon

THE newly formed helicopter company Bluebird Flight Services completed a successful rescue mission in the Fish River Canyon on Wednesday.

A group of tourists under the wing of Wild Dog Safaris were trekking in the canyon when a British woman, Teresa Murray, injured her ankle and could not continue. E-Med Rescue contacted Steve Groves, the helicopter pilot of Bluebird Flight Services, to see if it was possible to airlift Murray out of the canyon.”I assessed the situation and with due regard to the conditions of wind and heat in the canyon, confirmed it was possible to launch the helicopter to attempt this type of rescue,” Groves said.”The canyon is a particularly difficult area to fly in with a light helicopter.Once at the bottom you have to calculate the effects that an additional passenger, the patient, will have on the climb out to the top.”I was very impressed by the professionalism and organisation of both Wild Dog Safaris and E-Med Rescue.Teresa had been administered first aid by her guide, who had stayed with her through the night and had found the perfect landing spot for the helicopter.E-Med Rescue were waiting at the top of the canyon with an aeroplane ready to take her back to hospital at Windhoek,” Groves said.Bluebird Flight Services supplies the helicopter for the Kosmos 94.1 early-morning traffic report in Windhoek and will soon be offering scenic flights around the city.E-Med Rescue contacted Steve Groves, the helicopter pilot of Bluebird Flight Services, to see if it was possible to airlift Murray out of the canyon.”I assessed the situation and with due regard to the conditions of wind and heat in the canyon, confirmed it was possible to launch the helicopter to attempt this type of rescue,” Groves said.”The canyon is a particularly difficult area to fly in with a light helicopter.Once at the bottom you have to calculate the effects that an additional passenger, the patient, will have on the climb out to the top.”I was very impressed by the professionalism and organisation of both Wild Dog Safaris and E-Med Rescue.Teresa had been administered first aid by her guide, who had stayed with her through the night and had found the perfect landing spot for the helicopter.E-Med Rescue were waiting at the top of the canyon with an aeroplane ready to take her back to hospital at Windhoek,” Groves said.Bluebird Flight Services supplies the helicopter for the Kosmos 94.1 early-morning traffic report in Windhoek and will soon be offering scenic flights around the city.