One person taken to hospital by search and rescue helicopter after “medical incident” close to aqueduct

Further details have been released after an incident close to the aqueduct earlier today.

Although we reported that the large search and rescue helicopter was in the area, and one witness had said it had landed, the Welsh Ambulance Service did not reference it when we checked earlier.

This evening North East Wales Search And Rescue (NEWSAR) have released details of the call out, with some pictures illustrating the nature of the work and aid offered.

They added, “Due to the difficult location we were requested to provide facilities to stretcher the casualty out.”

“We also requested the assistance of the Coastguard & Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Caernarfon.

“After a carry to a suitable landing site the casualty was loaded into the helicopter and taken to hospital. Get well soon.”

The images released show the skill and technique to guide the helicopter in, and subsequent rescue.

The NEWSAR service is made up of volunteers team members and they do not receive any payment for providing this service to us all. You can read more about fundraising and donation to NEWSAR via this link.

NEWSAR is on call 24 hours a day 365 days a year. It costs approximately £25,000 a year to run the Team – this covers fuel and repairs for vehicles, protective equipment for team members, training courses and team equipment such as ropes, stretchers etc. As NEWSAR is a Registered Charity the vast majority of this money is raised through grants, individual donations, legacies, street collections and collection tins.

Helicopter has taken off / heading this way following the incident https://t.co/hlbKxUA2ZP pic.twitter.com/93pn820vRM

— Wrexham.com (@wrexham) July 4, 2019

Original information from earlier today…

A person has been taken to hospital after a “medical incident” near the aqueduct.

Both North Wales Police and the Welsh Ambulance Service were called to the incident on the B5434 in Pontcysyllte earlier today – with one person telling us that there was a large police presence in the area.

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called on Thursday 4 July at approximately 11:06 am to reports of a person lying on the river bank near the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

“We responded with one ambulance and we were assisted by our Community First Responders. One patient was transported by road ambulance to Maelor Hospital, Wrexham.”