The RTN 3rd NAC, based on Phuket’s Cape Panwa, received a request for assistance in delivering a patient from Krabi to Phuket on the afternoon of Nov 16. An emergency medevac by air was required for a man who had suffered a cardiac arrest on Koh Lanta Noi, the northern part of Lanta Island.
The distance from Lanta to Phuket by air or sea is approximately 80 km, compared to 200 km by road. However, the request came just after the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) had issued a weather warning for the south of Thailand, specifically mentioning Krabi and Phuket among the affected provinces.
Despite adverse weather conditions, the RTN 3rd NAC deployed their Sky Doctor team for the mission. A Sikorsky S-76B helicopter was dispatched to pick up the patient on Lanta and fly him to Vachira Phuket Hospital across Phang Nga Bay.
"The mission was accomplished despite unfavorable weather conditions, including limited visibility, a cloudy sky, and heavy rain throughout the journey. The high-performance aircraft and skilled pilots successfully delivered the patient into the hands of the doctors," announced RTN 3rd NAC.
According to the most recent update by the TMD, adverse weather conditions will remain in Krabi during the weekend (Nov 18-19). Other affected provinces include Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Krabi, Trang and Satun. Phuket and Phang Nga are not mentioned among the provinces to be affected by the weather during Nov 18-19.