Baby boy flown to Aberdeen in major coastguard operation

A premature baby was flown south for treatment in the early hours of Friday morning in a major operation co-ordinated by the coastguard.

Gilbert Bain Hospital requested help for the newborn baby boy from ambulance control, and two doctors and a nurse from Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin plus an incubator were flown to Shetland in a Sea King helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth.

The helicopter arrived in Shetland just before midnight on Thursday, landing at Clickimin as thick snow had prevented it from using Tingwall.

The baby was taken by ambulance to the helicopter, which took off for Sumburgh Airport at around 1.20am.

Meanwhile the King Air ambulance plane had been requested from Aberdeen and was waiting at Sumburgh for the helicopter’s arrival.

All the passengers transferred to the plane, which took the baby and the medical team on the 48-minute flight to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The baby’s condition is not known.