Video shows moment air ambulance helipad at Addenbrooke’s is blown apart by US Air Force Osprey
This video shows the moment a US Air Force plane destroys the helipad at Addenbrooke’s Hospital on take-off - meaning air ambulances are unable to land there.
The crew of the Boeing/Bell CV-22B Osprey 10-0053 were conducting medical transfer training operations on Wednesday (April 21) at the site on Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
But when the Osprey took off, the rubber matting was blown apart by the force of the rotor wash.
East Anglian Air Ambulance confirmed to the Cambridge Independent on Thursday (April 22) that it - along with the Magpas air ambulance and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance - was using the helipad at Cambridge City Airport while it is fixed.
This meant it took patients longer to reach the hospital.
Dr Victor Inyang, medical director for EAAA, told the Cambridge Independent: “Due to an incident at the Cambridge University Hospitals helipad involving a military aircraft on Wednesday April 21 the helipad is temporarily unavailable.
“The next closest helipad is at Cambridge City Airport, where one of the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) teams is based.
“It will be possible for the EAAA helipad to be used as an alternative landing site during this time and have patients transferred to Addenbrooke’s from there by land ambulance.
“Addenbrooke’s is the major trauma centre for the region, therefore quick and efficient transfer of critically ill or injured patients to the hospital is vital.
“Using the EAAA helipad is the best alternative while the CUH helipad is reinstated.”
A Cambridge University Hospitals (CUH) spokesperson said: “While our normal helipad is being repaired air ambulances will temporarily land at nearby Cambridge City Airport and patients are then transferred to the hospital in road ambulances with critical care staff on board, meaning we can continue to see and treat them as normal.”
On Thursday afternoon, CUH issued an update, saying: “The site is now cleared and safety checks are taking place. Once completed, the usual helipad will reopen.”
Then CUH confirmed on Friday that helicopters were able to land on site again, albeit not on the usual helipad.
“Air ambulances are now able to land again at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, close to the usual helipad site,” said a spokesperson.
No have details on the cost of the repair or who will pay for it have been released.
The US Air Force were contacted for comment.
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