Great Excitement Today.

[Caran]

This morning air hospital helicopter hovered over our house. Low enough to see pilot and passengers. I thought it was going to land on land leading to our back gate but too many cables overhead. Instead landed about 100 yards away. Couldn't really see what was going on. Decided to walk up the road to where I could see a crowd of people. The helicopter was empty and the pilot was sitting on a wall. I asked what was going on, (nosy) He said they were attending someone who wasn't very well. He was not allowed to say anything else about it.
Apparently they land as near as they can to a situation then they stop a passing vehicle and get them to take them to where the patient is.
After about 45 minutes the helicopter took off again and just skimmed my roof.

[Zacs-Master]

Doubt the person being treated was excited.

[Mamyalynne]

Hope the patient was ok.

[paddywak]

They do a great job don't they. We've got a school playing field about 100yds away and we get a visit two-three times a year and all the local kids gather to watch like we did when we were kids, only it was the fire engines we followed.

[Caran]

I hope the patient was okay too but we couldn't find out what had happened.
On a different note re helicopters.
Adele phoned one of our larger hotels and asked could she land her helicopter on their pad. She was told yes but it will cost £75. She declined and said too expensive she will find an alternative.
It was also found she rang a taxi company to find out about transport at 10.00 am to a small nearby village.
No one knows what her connection with said village is.
Strange what one finds out via google.

[Cloverjo]

Adele, the multimillionaire singer, I assume you mean, Caran? £75 was too expensive? What the??

[Togo]

When you get to see such things close up Caran it does make you realise just how awesome the event is. You get to see the skill and judgement of the people carrying out the manoeuvres that we take for granted when we read about them or see it on TV. I am sure that most of us would be pretty awestruck to witness the event close up. I am sure I would be, the launch of the Lifeboat locally is always a time of such gatherings.None of the people who go to watch wish anything other than a happy outcome for the crew or the people in danger, and we know that you didn't.

[Caran]

Thank you Togo.

[sherrardk]

We see loads of helicopters because of where we live (daily) - I still get excited (I especially like the chinook and the osprey, and the army helicopter is quite cool (feel sorry for the ordinary helicopter that we see the most)). Father Christmas arrives at the school in a helicopter, I think it's ace.

[Caran]

We do see helicopters across the forest, usually searching for missing people. This was the first time we have seen such up front action.

[cassa333]

I love Chinooks. They are my favourite helicopter.

We collected 600 bras a couple of years ago because the Hampshire and Isle of Wight air ambulance was collecting them as a fundraiser. When we went to give them to them we got to sit in it and lie in the surprisingly small patient area.

Disappointingly the woman that we gave them to said the thank you s and stuff then mentioned she was going to have to make two trips to the clothes bank to put them in!!!

[Hopkirk]

The pilot wasn't Prince William was it Caran?

[237SJ]

I always think of my dad when I see a red air ambulance. He was taken away in one (he didn't survive) when he had a heart attack in his garden. For days, I could still see the paramedics' footsteps on the soil that Dad had dug ready to plant his vegetables. They landed in the field behind the house and climbed over the wall. It's a shame that they rely on charity to do such a vital job

[albaqwerty]

ooh, SJ, am so sorry :-(

you're right, it is a shame that not only they but the lifeboats too rely on charity donations.

[Islay]

Gosh that is exciting!!

[Islay]

Sherr - it was my fathers turn to be Santa one year - he had to arrive in a Sea King problem being dad is terrified of helicopters!! I have never seen a greener santa!!