British Troops Parachute Medical Support Into Remote Tristan Da Cunha

TRISTAN DA CUNHA (Saint Helena), May 11 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- British paratroopers landed on a “golf course covered in rocks” to supply medical personnel and oxygen to Britain’s most remote overseas territory as it deals with a suspected hantavirus case, an army commander said on Sunday, PA Media/dpa reported.

The UK Health Security Agency confirmed on Friday that a British national had disembarked from the cruise ship MV Hondius to the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where they live, with a suspected case of hantavirus.

Six paratroopers, a Royal Air Force (RAF) consultant and an army nurse were parachuted to the island, which is normally only accessible by boat, while oxygen supplies and medical aid were also air dropped.

An RAF A400M transport aircraft flew from RAF Brize Norton to Ascension Island, supported by an RAF Voyager, before heading to Tristan da Cunha.

Tristan da Cunha, in a group of volcanic islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, is Britain’s most remote inhabited overseas territory – accessible only by boat, it has no airstrip, and a population of 221.

Ed Cartwright, commander of the 16 Air Assault Brigade, said there were “7,000 miles and about 56 hours” between the request for assistance and “having those parachutists and those medical stores on the ground”.

Describing the mission, he told Sky News: "No airstrip, high winds, very difficult to reach, and over a week for a boat, and the patient, as I understand, was on oxygen, and that oxygen supply was running out – so we had very few options."

Britain's Ministry of Defence said it was the first time medical personnel had been parachuted in to provide humanitarian support.

-- BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa