Coastguard helicopter no longer using Cornwall hospital after downdraft death

Coastguard helicopters are no longer landing directly at Cornwall's main hospital because of the death of a grandmother who was blown over by downdraft during an incident in Plymouth. Like many hospitals in the UK, the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske in Truro is equipped with a helipad that is used regularly by the Cornwall Air Ambulance and on less frequent occasions by the Sikorsky S-92A and Leonardo AW189 operated by HM Coastguard's contractors Bristow out of Newquay.

However as a result of Jean Langan's death, who was killed during an incident in March 2022 when she was knocked off balance by downdraft from one of the firm's helicopter as it landed at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, all NHS helipads in the UK have had to be reviewed.

An inquest into the 87-year-old grandmother's death, held last week, heard how updated guidance on ‘downwash’ from helicopters had not been applied to the existing helipad site at Derriford Hospital at the time of her death two years ago.

READ MORE: Legendary nightclub that shaped Cornwall's party scene confirms closure

READ MORE: Heartbreak as 'dear mummy' dies at just 37 years old

A spokesperson for the NHS Trust which runs the hospital told the hearing that large helicopters would never again land at Derriford because of the risks. Air accident investigators said that helipad sites across the country should be reviewed to ensure they adhere to the updated guidance.

As the inquest into Mrs Langan's death got underway, coastguard helicopters stopped using the helipad at Treliske, using the alternative site at Boscawen Park in Truro where land ambulances then take over to convey casualties to hospital.

Mrs Langan suffered serious head injuries when she was blown backwards by the gusts (known as ‘downwash’) caused by the HM Coastguard helicopter on March 4, 2022. It was carrying a casualty suffering from hypothermia who had been winched aboard after being rescued from a river near Tintagel in North Cornwall.

The inquest jury heard from Louise Mansfield of University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, which operates Derriford Hospital, that large helicopters such as the one which knocked Mrs Langan to the ground had been immediately stopped from landing at the helipad and the plan was to “never allow them to land again”, because of “the size and the risk”.

She said while there was an “eagerness” for some other trusts to get back onto the list of helipads that could have large helicopters land, she insisted there was “no eagerness at Derriford”, and such rescue helicopters will now “always land at Bickleigh Barracks”.

She said Car Park B – where Mrs Langan was knocked down – was no longer for public use, while the road closest to the helipad wall had been blocked off. She added that the future expansion of the emergency department would not “go into the flight paths” that the air ambulances use.

Air Accident Investigation Branch investigator Richard James told the inquest into Mrs Langan's death that the investigation had found there were nearly 200 hospital helicopter landing sites in the UK, many of which were built before the latest publication of guidance about downwash.

He told the jury that Derriford Hospital only became aware of this guidance “after this accident and this is likely to have been the case for many other hospitals with HLS in the UK”.

Join CornwallLive on WhatsApp and be first to hear what's happening near you - Cornwall Live

In his 132-page investigation report he stated that “it is possible that a number of these other sites do not have adequate downwash zones, nor effective measures in place to manage public movements in such hazardous areas”.

A number of safety recommendations were made by the AAIB, he said, including that guidance on downwash is published in one document and that NHS England should review all existing hospital helipad sites.

The Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, which operates Treliske as well as West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance and St Michael's Hospital in Hayle, confirmed that the search and rescue helicopter operated by Bristow is currently using its alternative landing site.

Its helipad is different to the one used by Derriford as it is on the ground rather than on a fenced off raised platform in a car park. Many city hospitals have their landing sites on the roof of buildings.

The Trust said the decision had been made by Bristow itself even though Treliske's helipad remains open and in use by other aircraft. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the legal responsibility for the safety of designated hospital helicopter landing sites remained with the site operator.

A spokesperson added: "This was a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the friends and family of Jean Langan at this difficult time.

"Where operators of landing sites are required to carry out compliance work, contingency plans are in place to ensure HM Coastguard helicopters can deliver people safely into appropriate onward medical care. HM Coastguard's 24/7 search and rescue capability is unaffected."

A spokesperson for RCHT said: "The helicopter landing pad at the rear of the Royal Cornwall Hospital remains open and is being used by operators including Cornwall Air Ambulance, which is the most frequent user of the site.

"The perimeter wall to the helipad site has recently been improved and we have a multi-agency working group, including the search and rescue service, which is finalising the specification for further upgrades. In the meantime, Bristow, which operates the much larger aircraft used for the search and rescue service, has made the decision to use alternative landing sites."

A spokesperson for Bristow, the private contractor operating HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter services out of Newquay, confirmed the decision but would not say when or if it will return to the landing site at the hospital. They added: "Bristow aircraft are currently operating to an alternate site in Truro from which patients can be transferred to hospital.

"Safety is always our first priority. We continue to work with the NHS Trusts which manage and maintain Hospital Helicopter Landing sites to ensure continued safe operations within CAA guidelines."

⚠️ Want the latest Cornwall breaking news and top stories first? Click here to join CornwallLive on WhatsApp and we'll send breaking news and top stories directly to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice ⚠️