Two marine ambulance transfers in two days

The Flying Christine III is operated by St John Ambulance and Rescue Service

Two patients have been assisted by an ambulance boat in Alderney in two days.

The Flying Christine III, which provides a medical link between the islands of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, responded to one case on Friday, before being tasked again to another injured patient on Saturday, bosses said.

The vessel was already at Braye Harbour as part of the Alderney Week celebrations when it was tasked to transfer a patient to hospital in Guernsey on Friday evening, before returning to the island to assist in an emergency case on Saturday.

So far this year, the marine ambulance has responded to 32 cases, including five in the past week, with calls involving sailings to Sark, Herm and Alderney.

The case on Saturday saw it assist an injured patient requiring urgent transport to Guernsey, where they were later taken to the emergency department by road ambulance.

Guernsey Ambulance and Rescue thanked all those involved, especially the volunteer boat crew.

The vessel is the marine equivalent of an accident and emergency ambulance, fully equipped with a range of life-saving and medical equipment.

It is on call 24 hours a day from a mooring in St Peter Port.

The vessel is a charitable asset, built with public support and maintained through a combination of charges, subscriptions, donations and sponsorship, bosses said.