An air ambulance was prevented from taking a dying man to hospital after a group flashed laser pens at the pilot as he tried to land, police said.
Wiltshire Air Ambulance went to the aid of a man who had suffered a heart attack shortly after midnight yesterday.
The pilot was attempting to land the helicopter in the town of Calne to pick up the casualty when laser pens were shone at the aircraft, forcing him to abandon the landing.
The patient later died in a land ambulance as he was taken to Great Western Hospital in Swindon.
Police said they do not believe the helicopter being unable to land affected the outcome for the man but described the actions of the people involved as a "serious offence" that could have had "catastrophic" consequences.
A Wiltshire Police spokeswoman said: "The Wiltshire Air Ambulance was responding to requests from ambulance crews on the ground in Calne who were dealing with a patient suffering chest problems.
"Whilst over the location it was forced to abort a landing and police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding this as there is evidence to suggest that a laser pen was being directed at the aircraft.
"The casualty, who had been receiving treatment from paramedics for a considerable time, was instead transported to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon by land ambulance but was pronounced dead on arrival.
"At this stage we are satisfied that the helicopter not being able to land did not affect the outcome of this incident."
Police are appealing to anyone with information to contact them.
"Endangering an aircraft is a very serious offence and any incident where lasers or bright lights are shone deliberately could have catastrophic consequences for the aircraft crew and those on the ground," the spokeswoman said.
"Shining a laser pen at an aircraft can potentially distract or block the pilot's view from the cockpit and this is why it is so dangerous and foolish.
"Laser pens do work both ways though. The air crew can identify where a laser has come from and we have provided information to officers who are now conducting a criminal investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident."
No comments:
Post a Comment