HELICOPTER DITCHES OFF SHETLAND

At 6.30pm tonight the Shetland Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre was advised by the Air Rescue Coordination Centre that they had lost contact with a Super Puma helicopter with 18 people on board travelling from the Borgsten  Dolphin. to Sumburgh. The helicopter was two miles west of Sumburgh airport Shetland.

Shetland Coastguard immediately requested helicopter assistance. The Coastguard Rescue helicopter based in Shetland, the RAF rescue helicopter from Lossiemouth and two Bond helicopters proceeded to the scene along with the RNLI all-weather lifeboats from Aith and Lerwick
At the present time 15 people have been accounted for and 3 people are still missing. The helicopters and lifeboats on scene are continuing to search. A specialist medical team has being flown out from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary to Lerwick by the RAF helicopter from Lossiemouth.

-Ends-
Notes to Editors


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