Coastguard helicopters no longer allowed to land at Derriford following fatal incident
A car park has also been closed off as a precaution
Last updated 7th Mar 2022
It has been confirmed that large aircraft including coastguard helicopters are no longer allowed to land at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, following a fatal incident.
Police say it is believed that an 87- year-old woman was blown over by the down draft when a coastguard chopper came in to land at the site on Friday.
The Devon and Cornwall force says the casualty was on a nearby footpath at the time and suffered a serious head injury; she died in hospital.
A second casualty, who was in the car park, is believed to have been injured when the down draft caused the car door to slam shut.
The woman, also in her 80s, suffered a broken pelvis and remains in a stable condition in hospital.
Hospital bosses say a car park has now been closed as a precaution too.
A spokesperson for University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by this incident and we are working with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch to support their investigation.
"The helipad at Derriford Hospital remains open to receive casualties. However, larger aircraft such as the coastguard helicopter are landing elsewhere in Plymouth and patients from those aircraft are then being transported from Plymouth to Derriford Hospital by road ambulance.
"As a precaution, Car Park B has been closed to patients and visitors.”
An investigation involving the Air Accidents Investigations Branch is currently underway.
A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected by the tragic incident at Derriford on Friday 4th March.
“The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will support the Air Accidents Investigations Branch and Devon and Cornwall Police in their investigations, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”