The Armed Forces of Malta's Air Wing, formerly known as the Air Squadron, has carried out its first medical evacuation mission under its new name.

The Rescue Coordination Centre at the army Luqa barracks was informed at 9.05 a.m. by the captain of the container ship APL India that a 26-year-old sailor from his crew required urgent hospitalisation.

The sailor, Vladimir Begenisic, from Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina, needed to have his appendix removed.

The container ship was some 20 nautical miles north of Dwejra, Gozo and was instructed to move closer to shore. An Alouette III helicopter took off from base, piloted by Captain Anthony Zammit, for the ship's location. Air Wing rescuer, Lance Bombardier Neville Cilia, was lowered onto the vessel to assess the patient's condition.

Both the sailor and the army rescuer were winched onto the helicopter by flight-technician Lance Bombardier Julian Spiteri, and flown to St Luke's Hospital.

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