Coast Guard sends two helicopters to rescue sick crew member

Two Icelandic Coast Guard helicopters were sent far offshore shortly before noon on Sunday after a crew member on a foreign service vessel fell ill, mbl.is reports. The vessel was about 200 nautical miles south of Iceland.

Coast Guard spokesperson Ásgeir Erlendsson said the operation had been under consideration since the previous day, when the service was alerted that assistance might be needed.

The vessel was well outside Iceland’s economic zone when the illness occurred and was asked to move closer to shore. The helicopters then took off shortly before noon.

One helicopter carried out the rescue while the other followed to ensure safety during the long flight. The operation was successful, and the sick crew member was taken aboard.

The helicopters were expected to return to Reykjavík around 3pm, after which the person would be transferred to Landspítali, Iceland’s national hospital.

Erlendsson said the operation required careful planning because of the distance from land, the long flight and the limited time available at the vessel due to fuel constraints. Coast Guard helicopters are designed to reach the outer limits of Iceland’s economic zone and return, he said, but both helicopters are not dispatched for such missions every day.