RAF AND ARMY JOIN IN AIR-LIFT OF CASUALTIES
RAF AND ARMY JOIN IN AIR-LIFT OF CASUALTIES
HELICOPTERS from the Royal Air Force and the Army played a vital role in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's devastating bomb blast at Omagh.
Casualties were transferred from the South Tyrone Hospital to the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen and from the Musgrave Park in Belfast to the Royal Victoria in a series of runs.
A fleet of seven helicopters assisted local medical services in the emergency.
A spokesperson for the Erne Hospital said that 63 victims had been taken there and treated for a variety of conditions including head injuries, burns, cuts and shock.
Musgrave Park Hospital, which has a landing pad, was used as a transfer point for helicopters ferrying victims intended for the Royal Victoria Hospital.
A spokesperson for the RVH said that it had dealt with 14 victims - 12 women and two men -two of whom were described as critical.
Dungannon Hospital took 18 of the Omagh bomb casualties with ages ranging from four years old to 66. They were suffering from serious multiple injuries, largely abdominal, chest and head injuries caused by flying shrapnel and glass.
Among those who helped the emergency services to implement their major incident plan were troops from the 1st Battalion, The Queen's Lancashire Regiment.
"We provided medical support in the immediate aftermath of the bombing and security to the police at the scene of the incident," said commanding officer of the battalion, Lt. Col. David James.
"Medical support was given at the scene and in the hospital as well as facilities for the victims and their families. Our thoughts are with those who suffered result of this terrible act.
"This was a tragic event in a small market town where the battalion has been made to feel so welcome over the last year.
It was miraculous that no-one from the battalion was caught up in the blast."
There were no military patrols on the streets when the bomb was detonated. The battalion's medical unit immediately went to the scene to help the ambulance service tend to the victims.
Back at camp there were also concerns that wives and children of officers and soldiers might have been caught up in the blast, but only a few minor complaints of shock and ear damage were received.
Several officers wives who are doctors also went to the hospital to help as medical staff issued radio appeals for more doctors and nurses to go in and help.
One senior army officer said: "We were assisting the emergency services at the very heart of the atrocity as the full horror of what had happened was realised and things continued at a rapid pace with helicopter airlifts to hospitals in Belfast and Londonderry."
HELICOPTERS from the Royal Air Force and the Army played a vital role in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's devastating bomb blast at Omagh.
Casualties were transferred from the South Tyrone Hospital to the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen and from the Musgrave Park in Belfast to the Royal Victoria in a series of runs.
A fleet of seven helicopters assisted local medical services in the emergency.
A spokesperson for the Erne Hospital said that 63 victims had been taken there and treated for a variety of conditions including head injuries, burns, cuts and shock.
Musgrave Park Hospital, which has a landing pad, was used as a transfer point for helicopters ferrying victims intended for the Royal Victoria Hospital.
A spokesperson for the RVH said that it had dealt with 14 victims - 12 women and two men -two of whom were described as critical.
Dungannon Hospital took 18 of the Omagh bomb casualties with ages ranging from four years old to 66. They were suffering from serious multiple injuries, largely abdominal, chest and head injuries caused by flying shrapnel and glass.
Among those who helped the emergency services to implement their major incident plan were troops from the 1st Battalion, The Queen's Lancashire Regiment.
"We provided medical support in the immediate aftermath of the bombing and security to the police at the scene of the incident," said commanding officer of the battalion, Lt. Col. David James.
"Medical support was given at the scene and in the hospital as well as facilities for the victims and their families. Our thoughts are with those who suffered result of this terrible act.
"This was a tragic event in a small market town where the battalion has been made to feel so welcome over the last year.
It was miraculous that no-one from the battalion was caught up in the blast."
There were no military patrols on the streets when the bomb was detonated. The battalion's medical unit immediately went to the scene to help the ambulance service tend to the victims.
Back at camp there were also concerns that wives and children of officers and soldiers might have been caught up in the blast, but only a few minor complaints of shock and ear damage were received.
Several officers wives who are doctors also went to the hospital to help as medical staff issued radio appeals for more doctors and nurses to go in and help.
One senior army officer said: "We were assisting the emergency services at the very heart of the atrocity as the full horror of what had happened was realised and things continued at a rapid pace with helicopter airlifts to hospitals in Belfast and Londonderry."
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/0067
Published Date: 20-Aug-98
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