Chopper defies ash in life-or-death dash

A RESCUE helicopter based at Sumburgh in Shetland has evacuated a woman who had taken an overdose and needed urgent medical attention from the Out Skerries, a group of islands east of Lerwick.

The helicopter flew through the ash and low visibility to bring the woman to Lerwick.

Martin Sykes, of Shetland Coastguard, said: "After discussions with ambulance control we realised that this was a life-or-death situation with a casualty in a very serious condition."