Indian Air Force rescues French national in Leh

Early morning today, a C-17 aircraft, on a routine sorti, from Chandigarh landed at Leh with the Patient Transfer Unit, to which Brensson was transferred.

Bresson Florence and her husband Christophe were on a road trip at Leh, on motorcycles when, in an accident, the 50-year-old French national lady was seriously injured. She was immediately taken to an army hospital nearby and then shifted to SNM hospital at Leh where she was shifted to the ICU. Her condition was critical. Christophe suffered minor injuries.

The Embassy of France at New Delhi,placed an immediate request to evacuate the patient to Chandigarh or Delhi, for further medical care. Accordingly, a C-17 Globemaster aircraft was prepared for launch with at Patient Transfer unit, a mobile ICU in itself, and enroute medicare personnel. Unfortunately, the weather at Leh in the afternoon hours on 16 Aug 18 did not permit the aircraft to land.

Early morning today, a C-17 aircraft, on a routine sorti, from Chandigarh landed at Leh with the Patient Transfer Unit, to which Brensson was transferred. Simultaneously a C-130 Hercules aircraft launched from Hindon reached Leh and took off with the patient accompanied by her husband and other Medicare personnel.

The evacuation of the casualty was successfully completed at 0925 hrs when the C-130 ac landed at Palam with the patient. She was then transferred to a specialized hospital at New Delhi.

It was an apprehensive moment for us when due whether we could not launch the aircraft last evening. Our medical fraternity was in constant touch with the doctors at Leh and at the first opportune moment both the aircraft were launched and mission executed successfully", said the Air Officer Commanding Airforce Station Chandigarh, Air Cmde S Srinivasan.

(With inputs from PIB)