KUALA LUMPUR: The Fire and Rescue Department's Emergency Air and Rescue Services (EMARS) helicopter carried out its first air ambulance flight yesterday, transporting a patient from Langkawi to Alor Setar Hospital in Kedah.
The department's Air Operations Management chief Roslan Aziz said the helicopter was launched by Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming last Friday.
"The 25-year-old female patient suffered from a tumor in the chest cavity, causing a narrowed airway that required immediate intervention. This flight was led by myself and assisted by Fazli Ezam Jamil, together with air quartermaster fireman Hakimi Mad Ali," he said in a statement today.
Roslan added that the transport of the patient, Nur Shauqina Shahidan, was also accompanied by a doctor and two medical officers from Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Langkawi.
"The A109E helicopter took off from the Wilayah Tengah Fire and Rescue Department airbase in Subang at 8am and completed the patient transfer operation around noon yesterday.
"Throughout the flight, weather conditions were quite hazy, and we had to endure low clouds and heavy rain on the task.
"However, the operation was successfully carried out without incident and the patient is receiving follow-up treatment at Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar," he said.