Operation conducted in synergy between the Sicilian Alpine and Speleological Rescue Service and the 82nd SAR Centre of the 15th Wing of the Italian Air Force

The joint operation between the Air Force and the Sicilian Alpine and Speleological Rescue concluded late this afternoon to recover a tourist from Friuli who was injured on the island of Marettimo. The incident occurred in the Punta Troia area when the 69-year-old woman, on holiday on the Egadi island with a group of friends, slipped while walking along a particularly challenging stretch of path, sustaining a suspected fracture of the tibia and fibula. No longer able to continue, her friends called the Single Emergency Number 112. The 118 control centre requested the intervention of the Alpine Rescue who, to ensure a rapid recovery in an inaccessible area, subsequently requested the assistance of a military helicopter from the Rescue Coordination Centre of the Aerospace Operations Command in Poggio Renatico.

The RCC of the COA has thus immediately activated the military crew on standby from the alert of the 82nd SAR Centre of the 15th Wing of the Air Force stationed at Trapani airport.

From the Sicilian base, an HH 139A helicopter took off, embarking two air rescue technicians from the SASS to transport them to the accident site a few minutes later. A Mountain Rescue technician and a pilot from the Air Force's air rescue unit reached the woman, immobilised her leg, and hoisted her aboard the helicopter using the winch. She was then immediately landed at the landing pad of the Sant'Antonio Abate hospital in Trapani for necessary medical treatment.

Social content at the following link: https://twitter.com/italianairforce/status/1708543018259669233?s=48&t=peLG5ncz-7ON9E9zulRF2A