A patient was air-lifted to hospital by Coastguard helicopter after falling ill near the top of Brean Down on Saturday (October 19th).
Burnham-On-Sea Coastguards were called out at 2.10pm to assist in the medical evacuation of a person from the rocky outcrop.
A spokesman for Burnham-On-Sea Coastguard said: “For one couple the walk along Brean Down was a little too much and one of them became poorly. With their location in mind, we set off in our vehicle to the Fort at the very end of the Down.”
“The person had fallen ill just a few hundred metres away from trig point, the highest point of the Down. After an initial assessment, and then the arrival of a South Western Ambulance Service paramedic, our thoughts quickly turned to extraction methods.”
“The ground has been given a good soaking from recent rain and it was particularly slippery underfoot, making negotiating the steep slopes with a stretcher and a person onboard a risky manoeuvre.”
“We requested a Coastguard Helicopter to attend as the paramedic continued their own assessments. The helicopter, called Rescue 187, is based at St Athans in Wales and from wheels up to arriving can be 20 minutes at most.”
“The team set about creating an HLS (Helicopter Landing Site) ready for the inbound helicopter while still assisting the paramedic when needed. Once they had landed atop Brean Down, they were then transitioned to the helicopter by stretcher and then onwards to Southmead Hospital for further treatment.”
“Thanks to the National Trust volunteers who were on Brean Down for their help and to all the walkers who had great patience and understanding while we kept the area clear for the Coastguard Helicopter.”
“We wish the person all the best and a swift recovery.”
