THREE RESCUE OPERATIONS IN MALTA IN A FEW HOURS

Following a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) request, an HH212 helicopter from the Italian Military Committee for Civil Defence (MICCD) Air Force section rescued two sailors in two separate operations and carried out a search for a missing diver. Following a medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) request, the helicopter HH212 rescued a young fisherman on board the Maltese vessel “Irminio”, sailing about 75 miles west of Malta. During the return phase, the aircraft was then diverted by the Malta Rescue Coordination Centre towards the Italian fishing vessel “Stefano Primo”, sailing about 45 miles west of Malta, on board which a crew member was complaining of severe chest pain. Having reached the Italian unit, operations for the second rescue were initiated, which were severely affected by the terrible weather conditions. The two rescued patients were transported to Luqa base and entrusted to the care of medical personnel for subsequent admission to Mater Dei Hospital. During the disembarkation operations of the two rescued patients, the takeoff order for the third mission arrived: the search for a missing diver. The HH212 helicopter headed towards “Anchor Bay”, along the north-west coast of the island where it began searching a stretch of sea, in cooperation with a Maltese rescue naval unit present in the area. The activities concluded successfully with the localisation of the diver, who was rescued by the naval unit. The SAR Section, equipped with HH212 helicopters, is the only operational unit of the Italian Mission for Defence Collaboration, and provides for both the training of flight personnel and the SAR Service. Flight operations are carried out with mixed Italian-Maltese crews, ensuring the H24 SAR service, even in adverse weather conditions.