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# Critically unwell patient airlifted more than 100 miles from Jersey to Plymouth
- URL: https://www.plymouthplus.co.uk/critically-unwell-patient-airlifted-more-than-100-miles-from-jersey-to-plymouth/
- Published: 2026-08-21T17:35:57.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-21T17:41:36.000Z
- Author: Seamus McCoy
- Tags: HM Coastguard, News, #editors-picks

A critically unwell patient was airlifted to Plymouth late on Tuesday evening (18 August).

At around 6pm [HM Coastguard](https://www.plymouthplus.co.uk/tag/hm-coastguard/) received a request to transfer the patient from Jersey General Hospital to Derriford Hospital.

Search and rescue helicopter R924 was deployed from Newquay Airport and set off for Jersey Airport just after 7pm.

After around an hour's flight, the aircraft arrived in Jersey before departing for RM Bickleigh in Plymouth at around 9.50pm.

Paramedics were waiting for the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter when it landed at RM Bickleigh in Plymouth at around 10.45pm. 

The [South Western Ambulance Service](https://www.plymouthplus.co.uk/tag/south-western-ambulance-service/) sent a double-crewed land ambulance and an operations officer to the barracks.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/74/83/7483ab0e-4e89-48b0-a2a9-d29bc2bbbe08/content/images/2026/08/R6M25213.JPG)

****Paramedics at the landing site.** (Image: Plymouth Plus)

Since 2022, Coastguard helicopters have been unable to land at Derriford Hospital after a woman was fatally injured by rotor downdraft.

This meant the patient had to complete the final part of the journey to [Derriford Hospital](https://www.plymouthplus.co.uk/tag/derriford-hospital/) by road ambulance.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/74/83/7483ab0e-4e89-48b0-a2a9-d29bc2bbbe08/content/images/2026/08/R6M25131.JPG)

****Ambulance arrives at Bickleigh Barracks.** (Image: Plymouth Plus)

[HM Coastguard](https://www.plymouthplus.co.uk/tag/hm-coastguard/) helicopters are sometimes called upon to support the NHS by transporting seriously ill patients between hospitals when time is critical.

An agreement is in place to make it easier for Coastguard helicopters to carry out time-critical hospital transfers across the [South West](https://www.plymouthplus.co.uk/tag/south-west-news/).

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