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Region’s air ambulance helicopter out of service after taking damage

Northwestern Ontario is temporarily without the services of an air ambulance helicopter. This follows a Sunday incident in Gillies Township, south of Kakabeka Falls, that saw the Ornge helicopter damaged while flying to assist a patient.

Northwestern Ontario is temporarily without the services of an air ambulance helicopter. 

This follows a Sunday incident in Gillies Township, south of Kakabeka Falls, that saw the Ornge helicopter damaged while flying to assist a patient. 

Officials say the helicopter was attempting to land at a home off of Highway 595 when the rotors clipped a tree. 

The craft was able to land safely and the two pilots and two paramedics on board were uninjured. 

The patient was eventually transported to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre by land ambulance and is said to be in stable condition.

Transportation Safety Board officials have examined the helicopter and repair crews are now working to get it back in service. 

But there is no word on how long that may take.  Meantime, the region still has access to two fixed wing air ambulances. 

And Ornge says other assets from across the province can be deployed as needed.

(Thunder Bay Television)




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