HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA -- (Marketwire) -- 03/24/12 -- On Friday, March 23rd at approximately 10:30 p.m. (Eastern time), Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Halifax dispatched a Cormorant helicopter from 103 Transport and Rescue Squadron, 9 Wing, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador in response to a request from Newfoundland and Labrador provincial authorities to conduct an emergency evacuation of a patient from Makkovik, Labrador to Goose Bay, Labrador.
Following established protocols and after exhausting all of their civilian resources to conduct an emergency medical evacuation, provincial authorities sought military support to carry out the air transportation of the patient.
"The Canadian Forces stand ready to assist provincial authorities resolve situations where lives are in peril," said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. "I remain proud of the life-saving work carried out by our brave Search and Rescue Technicians, and thank them for their continued outstanding service."
The Cormorant crew successfully transferred the patient to Goose Bay for road transfer to a local hospital early Saturday morning and returned to base.
103 Transport and Rescue Squadron, is based at 9 Wing, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador.
Notes to editor / news director:
Canada Command Search and Rescue Backgrounder: http://www.canadacom.forces.gc.ca/nr-sp/bg-do/11-001-sar-eng.asp
Canadian Forces Search and Rescue Regions: http://www.canadacom.forces.gc.ca/site/org-org-eng.asp
Royal Canadian Air Force: 9Wing Gander http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/9w-9e/index-eng.asp
Contacts:
Information: 1-866-377-0811/613-996-2353
www.forces.gc.ca